The Dogs will play the winner of Saturday night's St Kilda-Fremantle match in next weekend's final after clinging to victory in thrilling circumstances, 1.11.17 (92) to 1.12.8 (89).
And they'll be looking towards the final as a dress rehearsal for round one with all available players, including skipper Brad Johnson, expected to play.
"Most clubs look at the last NAB game to play their best team because of the week off after," assistant coach Peter Dean said after the game.
"Johnno hasn't missed a lot of games and it's come as a bit of a shock to him but he's handled it really well.
"He was a bit flat early but he's full of beans now. He's a chance to come and slot in."
For the second week running, Barry Hall was the star attraction on Friday night with a four-goal effort that will be better remembered for his match-winning mark with just over a minute remaining.
The Dogs trailed by three points after former Brisbane Lion Scott Harding had stolen the lead for the Power with successive goals leading up to the 21-minute mark.
The ball was bombed into the Dogs' attacking arc where Hall outmuscled four players to mark at the back of the pack.
He swiftly handballed to defender Brian Lake who slotted the goal that put the Dogs out to their winning three-point lead with just 69 seconds remaining.
Hall played nearly the whole game and ended with 12 possessions and nine marks.
He was supported by a classy game from Robert Murphy, a solid effort from Jason Akermanis, another impressive hit-out from Brodie Moles and precision from Shaun Higgins, who was subbed in at half time.
Despite missing Johnson, No.1 ruckman Ben Hudson and Daniel Giansiracusa, the Dogs prevailed after a terribly untidy first half.
There was even an embarrassing period in the second term where Murphy, Hall, Ryan Griffen and Lindsay Gilbee all flubbed basic skills within a minute of each other.
Dean conceded Port was cleaner by hand and foot but put the Dogs' frequent mistakes down to the unusually humid conditions underneath the closed stadium roof.
Meanwhile, the Power owned the field for most of the first half. They out-tackled the Bulldogs and dominated the clearances, with Travis Boak and Robbie Gray prolific at the stoppages.
But after trailing by 12 points at the first break, the Dogs upped their intensity to take a seven-point lead into the main break.
After dominating in the first half against Hawthorn, Hall was quiet early on. Matched up against Alipate Carlile, the big man was kept to seven touches as delivery from the midfield waned.
He almost went the half without a major but an after-the-siren shot saw him carry one six-pointer into the break.
Port was lifted in the third by the efforts of Kane Cornes and Mitch Banner to help level the scores by the final change.
Elevated rookie Daniel Stewart was also one of Port's best with three goals before being concussed late in the game.
The Bulldogs have played in four pre-season or night series grand finals since the competition began in 1956 and have won them all.
Dean said supporters were within their right to be excited but warned the focus had not changed.
"It's going to be a bit chaotic with our supporters and that's great," he said.
"We're happy for them to be happy but they've got to realise we're still on a system to be successful towards the end of the home and away season."
Meanwhile, Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams was bemused at the AFL's fixturing that left his side with two interstate trips within six days of each other.
“It was a great effort for our club. We played in 40 degrees last week, six days ago and we had to fly twice,” he said.
“All credit to our fitness people and our medical staff to be able to get them up and have such a competitive game in a short period of time.”
Western Bulldogs 1.0.3 1.5.8 1.8.13 1.11.17 (92)
Port Adelaide 0.3.3 0.6.4 1.9.7 1.12.8 (89)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Nine-point goals: Griffen Goals: Hall 4, Cooney, Hahn, Griffen, Akermanis, Higgins, Moles, Lake
Port Adelaide: Nine-point goals: Pearce Goals: D. Stewart 3, Gray 2, Harding 2, Tredrea, Cloke, P. Stewart, Banner, Ebert
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Murphy, Akermanis, Hall, Moles, Griffen, Minson, Higgins, Boyd, Cooney
Port Adelaide: Gray, K. Cornes, D. Stewart, Boak, Banner, Brogan, Pearce
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Port Adelaide: D. Stewart (concussion)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Donlon
Official crowd: 10,531 at Etihad Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
