PORT ADELAIDE will go into the mid-season break with a 6-6 win/loss record after being thumped by the Western Bulldogs at TIO Stadium in Darwin on Saturday night.

The Power were disappointing from the outset, falling behind early and never threatening the Dogs who ran out 93-point winners, 21.11 (137) to 7.2 (44).

Not too many Port Adelaide players will return to South Australia with pleasant memories of their performances in the top end, although Warren Tredrea looked likely in the forward line despite kicking just the one goal.

Toby Thurstans’ effort in an under-siege defence could not be faulted, while Kane Cornes was his usual prolific self with 36 possessions.

But the Bulldogs had far too many winners across the ground, smashing the Power in contested possessions and the inside-50 count.

Their dominance began early with goals to Brad Johnson and Will Minson establishing a buffer that would never be threatened.

By quarter time, the Bulldogs' had four goals on the board to just one from the Power and probably should have made more of their superior possession and ball use.

The 19-point advantage was stretched immediately after the first break when Liam Picken drilled home a long bomb.

Picken was easily winning his match-up with Danyle Pearce, and added another point from the ensuing ball-up when frustration got the better of Pearce and he gave away a free kick.

The ball soon found its way into Josh Hill's hands whose goal made it four-straight for the Bulldogs and took the lead out to 31 points.

Port Adelaide needed to lift and it did, with Ebert keeping his team in the contest with a well taken set shot.

Callan Ward answered for the Bullies but the Power were playing with greater intensity and enjoyed a run-on, with goals to Warren Tredrea and an electric effort from David Rodan tightening up proceedings.

But that would be the end of the resistance.

Minson gave his team a comfortable half-time margin with a late goal in the second quarter, and the Dogs completely broke the game open with a five-goals-to-one third quarter.

The Power could just not get their hands on the ball and when they did, often had no one to deliver it to as the Dogs' relentless pressure broke down their structure.

Port Adelaide had 60 less possessions for the term than their opponents and went into the final change trailing by 55 points.

But there would be no hint of a comeback, or even a break-even in the last quarter with the Bulldogs running riot. They posted eight goals to the two to deal Port Adelaide’s percentage a potentially damaging hit given the congested nature of the AFL ladder.

The Power now face the prospect of falling from the top eight by round’s end, giving coach Mark Williams plenty to work on before they face the all-conquering Geelong at Skilled Stadium in two weeks' time.

Western Bulldogs  4.2  8.5  13.9  21.11 (137)
Port Adelaide  1.1  4.1  5.2  7.2 (44)  

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Hill 3, Johnson 3, Minson 3, Giansiracusa 2, Hahn 2, Gilbee, Griffen, Picken, Akermanis, Boyd, Ward, Hudson, Higgins
Port Adelaide: Ebert 2, D. Motlop, Rodan, Tredrea, J. Westhoff, Cassisi

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Cross, Hargrave, Cooney, Griffen, Harbrow, Picken, Higgins, Gilbee, Minson
Port Adelaide: Cassisi, Rodan, K. Cornes, Thurstans

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Port Adelaide: Motlop (ankle)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stevic, Wenn, Hendrie

Official crowd: 11,306 at TIO Stadium 

The views contained in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL