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).
For the second week running, recruit Barry Hall was the star attraction with a four-goal effort that will be better remembered for his match-winning mark with just over a minute remaining.
The Power led by three points at the 21-minute mark of the final term after former Brisbane Lion Scott Harding booted two successive goals.
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 rookie Brodie Moles and a good half from Shaun Higgins, who was subbed in for James Mulligan.
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.
Port was lifted in the third by the efforts of Kane Cornes and Mitch Banner while elevated rookie Daniel Stewart was one of their best before being concussed late in the game.
Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams was pleased with his side's competitiveness, but admitted to being 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."
Meanwhile, Bulldogs assistant coach Peter 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."
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.
