With Adam Cooney, Matthew Boyd and Daniel Cross all out of the side, the Bulldogs handed the captaincy to Ryan Griffen. And he didn't disappoint, racking up a blistering 21 disposals to half time en route to 40 for the match, the most in one game by any player this season. He also laid nine tackles, and 20 of those possessions were contested. With an AFL Player Rating of 17, he is certainly enjoying some red-hot form. In the past three weeks Griffen has recorded big numbers, with 30 disposals and two goals against St Kilda, 29 touches against the Gold Coast and 33 disposals against North Melbourne.
2. More woe for Williams
Sadly for Tom Williams, it was another game to forget. In just his fifth senior appearance since round 19, 2011, Williams went up for a mark and dislocated his right shoulder in the second quarter. It's the same shoulder he had reconstructed last year, and continues an injury curse that has plagued him since he was drafted with the sixth pick in 2004. Since then, he has battled issues with his shoulder, foot, thigh, quadriceps and hamstring, playing just 78 games. By comparison, fellow 2004 draftee Griffen played his 171st game on Saturday night.
3. Port don’t put it away
Port Adelaide led the inside 50 count 26-15 at half time, but held just an 11-point buffer at the main change. Their generosity gave the Dogs a sniff, and the ‘home’ side came out firing in the third quarter, kicking three consecutive goals to grab an advantage they never relinquished.
4. Hot Dogs
The Bulldogs have now won their past seven games against Port Adelaide, with four of those games at TIO Stadium. The Dogs utilised heat chambers in the month before the game to prepare, which seemed like a wise move with the temperature still at 29 degrees when the ball was bounced. While the Power wilted in the second half, the Dogs clicked into gear to notch their second win on the trot.
5. Tough times ahead for Power
The Power entered the game desperately needing a win, having dropped the past four games after being one of the stories of the season with their 5-0 start. They now have the bye before taking on Greater Western Sydney in round 12. After that, things get considerably tougher. They face the Swans, Collingwood, Essendon and Hawthorn after the meeting with the 0-10 Giants, adding more sting to Saturday night’s narrow loss.
