Power skipper Tom Jonas consoles Travis Boak after the 2021 preliminary final loss. Picture: Getty Images

SHATTERED captain Tom Jonas says a second successive AFL preliminary final failure will serve as motivation for Port Adelaide as it attempts to come back "bigger and better" in 2022.

The Power were comprehensively outplayed on their home deck in a brutal 71-point defeat to the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night, ending their premiership hopes.

The "bitter disappointment" followed a similar letdown for Ken Hinkley's men last year, when they fell six points short of eventual premiers Richmond at the same stage of the season.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 00:42

    Schoolmates combine to get Dogs off to a flyer

    Bailey Smith and Laitham Vandermeer kicked back-to-back goals to give the Doggies the jump over Port

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  • 00:25

    Brutal Wines breaks through for Port's first

    Ollie Wines has kicked Port's first goal with this brilliant snap

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  • 01:14

    Dogs end first with a flurry to cap off epic quarter

    Bailey Smith and Mitch Hannan both kicked their second goals within a minute of each other to give their side a 37-point lead

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  • 00:51

    Treloar leaves Port for dust as Hannan makes it three

    Adam Treloar went on an incredible run which set up a brilliant third goal for Mitch Hannan

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  • 00:48

    The Bont is all class with super goal

    Marcus Bontempelli snagged his second goal with this incredible running finish

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  • 00:36

    Power forwards start second half with a bang

    Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall combined to give Port two early goals to start the second half

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  • 00:33

    Smith goes whack with long-range bomb

    Bailey Smith nailed his third goal of the game with this effort from beyond the 50m arc

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  • 07:50

    Highlights: Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs

    The Power and Bulldogs clash in the Preliminary Finals

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  • 02:13

    Baz dazzles on prelim stage with four of the best

    Bailey Smith blasts four goals past Port to lead the Doggies to a Grand Final berth

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  • 10:09

    Hinkley: 'The closer you get, the harder and more disappointing that loss is'

    Watch Ken Hinkley's media conference after Port Adelaide's loss to the Western Bulldogs in the preliminary final

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  • 19:08

    Beveridge: 'I'm proud of Treloar and bloody disappointed in a few nasty people'

    Watch Luke Beveridge's media conference after the win over Port Adelaide in the preliminary final

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  • 14:57

    Mini Match: Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs

    Extended highlights of the second preliminary final clash between the Power and Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval

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"We didn't play our brand of footy, didn't uphold the Port Adelaide identity," Jonas said after the Bulldogs mauling.

"It's a privilege to wear this guernsey and we just got well and truly outplayed.

"Two years in a row we've fallen short of where we want to be.

"We exist to win premierships, that's the measuring stick."

Jonas is proud of the playing group as it continues to develop under Hinkley, with a band of energetic youngsters, experienced campaigners and talented recent recruits seemingly capable of keeping the Power in premiership contention next year.

But while he believes in the players, coaches and high performance staff at Alberton, the third-year skipper concedes they will be starting from scratch again next season.

"We've all got a collective goal, we're going in the same direction and we've got a desire to work hard and learn from our mistakes," Jonas said.

"We'll stick together through the good times and bad, and I know we'll be back bigger and better in 2022.

"We'll use (the Bulldogs defeat) as motivation to reload and go again. We've got the group to do it."

Port Adelaide's latest defeat left them with a 0-3 record in preliminary finals since Hinkley took over as coach in 2013.