Port Adelaide ahead Todd Marshall has booted a pair of late clutch objectives to encourage his AFL facet to a comeback 14-point victory over the Western Bulldogs.
Marshall’s double-strike in a 3 minute span within the last time period helped the Energy prevail 10.10 (70) to eight.8 (56) on a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval.
The Bulldogs, with Cody Weightman slotting 4 objectives in his first AFL recreation of the season after overcoming a groin harm, have been eight factors up 10 minutes right into a frantic last time period.
However Marshall then transformed two set-shots, together with a outstanding 45-meter effort when hemmed on a boundary line, to place the Energy in entrance.
The house facet kicked the final 4 objectives of the sport earlier than a 45,115-strong crowd.
Port’s Zak Butters (32 disposals, one purpose) and Ollie Wines (26 disposals) reveled within the moist whereas Darcy Byrne-Jones, redeployed in assault from his customary backline function, kicked two objectives.
The Energy’s Connor Rozee (26 possessions) and Dan Houston (22 touches, one purpose) have been additionally important.
The Bulldogs have been fantastically served by ruckman Tim English – he collected 23 disposals, kicked a purpose and notched 28 hitouts in a show so dominant it compelled Port to substitute their first-choice ruck Scott Lycett.
Weightman was good with 4 majors whereas on-baller Adam Treloar (35 disposals), Jack Macrae (24) and Jason Johannisen (28) have been different standouts.
The Energy made the early working, main by 15 factors at quarter-time and by 9 at halftime, 5.Eight to 4.5.
However their benefit shortly disappeared within the third time period: Weightman soccered an excellent purpose from an acute angle, his skipper Marcus Bontempelli added one other because the Canine hit the entrance for the primary time.
The Bulldog surge got here as Port subbed out Lycett, who copped a toweling from English – the Energy large man recorded simply two disposals.
The groups traded the lead within the latter levels of the quarter earlier than a late main Mitch Hannan main put the Canine forward by two factors, 7.6 to six.10, on the final change.
Weightman bobbed up for his fourth purpose simply three minutes into the ultimate time period and the Canine have been sniffing victory.
Enter Marshall, whose two ice-cool conversions triggered a match-winning energy surge of 4 consecutive objectives.
