Wild winds, torrential rain and sub-freezing temperatures failed to deter Port Adelaide, who bounced back from two straight losses with a 44-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Mars Stadium to catapult themselves back into the top-four.
Charlie Dixon starred for the Power up forward with five goals, while Jarad Polec was at his electrifying best with 32 disposals.
It was conversely a day to forget for the Bulldogs, who only managed five goals for the game and kicked just the one major in the second half.
After a period of relatively strong form, the Bulldogs looked to add Port Adelaide to their list of scalps on their return to Ballarat for the second time this season.
With the weather far from ideal out in the west, it was always going to scrap at Mars Stadium, with the Bulldogs looking up for the fight early around the contest.
Mitch Wallis would give the Bulldogs the perfect start as he converted a classy chance within the first minute of the game to put the Power on the back foot early.
Looking to cement his place back in the side leading into September, former Demon, Jack Watts, was able to insert his influence on the game with his first goal to bring the Power back on level terms.
In an intriguing first term, it was stoppage after stoppage for the majority as the wet conditions made for a tough slog for all players.
It would take almost 20 minutes for the Bulldogs to break the deadlock, as former Power defender, Jack Trengove, put through his first goal for the new club to give them a two-point lead in the dying minutes of the quarter.
With proceedings seemingly over for the first term, a nice passage of play from the Power would see Justin Westhoff snap home his first on the quarter-time siren to give Port Adelaide the lead back going into the first change.
Although conditions gradually began to improve, it was still very much a slog as the second quarter began.
Dixon would kick off proceedings in the second with his first to extend Port Adelaide’s margin to eight points as the class of the Power began to shine through.
But the heart and desire of the Dogs was not to be questioned, as debutant Fergus Greene was able to take a strong mark inside and convert to bring the margin back under a goal.
A classy snap from Steven Motlop would again see the Power’s 10-point buffer restored, before Trengove would again pop up inside 50 and convert from a free kick to reduce the deficit to four points at the main change.
After a sloppy first half of football, the Power simply needed to respond as they looked to keep their top-four hopes alive.
Dixon would begin the third quarter in remarkably similar fashion to the second as the powerhouse forward marked strongly inside 50 and converted to give the Port a 10-point break.
This would see the flood gates open to an extent, as the improved weather allowed the Power to get their running game going to devastating effect.
Chad Wingard would put through his first goal to get the margin to a game high 16 points, before a third to Dixon would see Port Adelaide suddenly out to a commanding 22-point buffer.
At risk of being blown away at their home away from home, a strong pack mark and goal from Josh Scache would revive the Dogs as they looked to fight their way back into the game.
However, despite dominating the final minutes of the term, the Bulldogs could only muster four behinds as missed opportunities saw the Power take a 14-point lead into the final change. ‘
Following some choice words by coach Ken Hinkley, Port Adelaide would play inspired footy in the final term as the Dogs simply could not keep up with the class of the Power.
Dixon would, for the third time in the match, put through the first goal of the term as he proved to be an unstoppable force in the forward 50.
Kept quiet by veteran stopper Dale Morris, Power superstar Robbie Gray would put his imprint on the game with a classy snap from the boundary to extend Port’s lead beyond four goals for the first time.
From then on it would be a procession for the men from Alberton, as after a few weeks of poor performance they were finally able to get back to their best.
A fifth goal to Dixon would cap off a brilliant afternoon for him as the Port star appeared to be coming into his best form at the right time of year.
With the game all but over, debutant Kane Farrell was able to cap off an excellent afternoon for the Power as he converted a set shot from a tight angle, much to the delight of his teammates.
As temperatures plunged below zero, it was a low risk finish to proceedings in Ballarat with the Power running out 44-point victors.
Port Adelaide will look to continue their push for the top four as they face Adelaide in what will be a cracking showdown next Saturday evening. While the Western Bulldogs will be hoping to add to their wins tally as they face St Kilda on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.0 4.0 5.4 5.4 (34)
PORT ADELAIDE 2.2 4.4 7.6 11.12 (78)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Trengove 2, Wallis, Greene, Schache
Port Adelaide: Dixon 5, Westhoff, Gray, Wingard, Motlop, Farrell, Watts
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Trengove, Macrae, Dunkley, Hunter, Naughton
Port Adelaide: Dixon, Polec, Wingard, Wines, Ebert
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Roughead (head)
Port Adelaide: Hombsch (left knee)
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