The Power dominated all over the ground to post a very impressive victory 22.18.150 to 10.13.73.
The win means Port could yet pinch second spot from Brisbane and gain the vital home advantage in the first week of finals.
Should both Sydney and Adelaide win as expected tomorrow, the Bulldogs are dead for 2001.
Even if both those teams lost, the Dogs would need a massive win in the final round and rely on many other peculiar results going decisively their way to make the finals cut.
Key Bulldogs players Chris Grant, Nathan Brown and Luke Darcy all looked flat after the thrashing of Hawthorn six days earlier, and without their influence the home team could not match a confident and intimidating Power outfit.
Warren Tredrea had 13 kicks, nine marks and three goals in the first half to smash open the game, as Port had the game effectively won by half-time when it led by nine goals.
Josh Carr and Jarrod Schofield demonstrated the depth of the Power's midfield rotation to rack up high numbers of possessions, much of it courtesy of Matthew Primus' dominance over Darcy in the ruck.
Gavin Wanganeen provided rebound from defence and Che Cockatoo-Collins was instrumental in setting up the big early lead before leaving the fray with what looked like concussion.
Brad Johnson kicked three goals in a malfunctioning Dogs forward line to be among his team's few good players, but also was forced off with concussion in the final term.
Youngster Robert Murphy showed some good form while Tony Liberatore battled hard in what could yet turn out to be his second last game.
Scoreboard:
PORT ADELAIDE: 5.5, 12.10, 17.15, 22.18 (150)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 2.5, 3.9, 7.13, 10.13 (73)
Goals: Port Adelaide: W Tredrea 4 F Francis 3 S Dew 3 J Carr 3 M Primus 2 P Burgoyne 2 C Cockatoo-Collins 2 G Wanganeen J Schofield N Stevens. Western Bulldogs: B Johnson 3 N Eagleton 3 R Murphy C Grant P Hudson M Alvey.
Best: Port Adelaide: W Tredrea J Carr M Primus G Wanganeen J Schofield C Cockatoo-Collins. Western Bulldogs: B Johnson R Murphy T Liberatore.
Umpires: B Allen, M Ellis, M McKenzie.
Official crowd: 19,649 at Colonial Stadium.
