3 minute read

A snapshot of the second AFL preliminary final between Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval.

SNAPSHOT OF THE SECOND AFL PRELIMINARY FINAL

* Result: Western Bulldogs 17.14 (116) bt Port Adelaide 6.9 (45) at Adelaide Oval.

* Key moment: Port Adelaide were already down and hurt midway through the second quarter but Bulldogs forward Mitch Hannan delivered an early knockout punch by putting through his third goal to completely flatten the Power crowd. Hannan's easy snap put the Bulldogs 52 points up and there was no way back for Port.

* Key stat: It was a one-sided weekend of finals action. Melbourne (83 points) and the Western Bulldogs (71) ensured the combined margins were the biggest in preliminary final history, with the tally of 154 points eclipsing the 151 in 1995 (Geelong 89 points and Carlton by 62).

* Injuries: Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli entered the game with concerns over a knee injury but he looked untroubled as he gathered 20 possessions and kicked two goals. But youngster Laitham Vandermeer was subbed out with hamstring tightness in the final quarter and replaced by Anthony Scott. Port forward Todd Marshall (hamstring) also failed to see out the game, with Sam Powell-Pepper activated into the contest.

* What's next: The Western Bulldogs are through to their second grand final in 60 years - to go with their memorable run to the 2016 premiership. Luke Beveridge's team will meet red-hot Melbourne in the decider at Perth's Optus Stadium on September 25. It will be the first time the Demons and Bulldogs have met in a grand final since 1954.