Australian Football

Match Report

The one game for Saturday afternoon, going up against the Crows match at West Lakes would be the Magpies taking on the Bulldogs on ABC TV. The Bulldogs have run roughshod all over the Magpies for the last five seasons, 12 games without anything to show for it. From the season kick-off in 2008 to their last encounter in Round 12, the Bulldogs have shown the Magpies no mercy. But after a win against North last week, the 'Pies self belief looked like it had returned... and it did in a big way.

Port started things off with a 5.4 to 2.1 first quarter, taking a 21-point lead at the first change. They would continue the punishment in the second quarter, extending the margin to 31 points by the long break after adding a further 4.1 to the Dogs' 2.3. With a good deal of the senior side out injured, the Bulldogs were a shadow of their former selves and looked more like the group that lost to the Double Blues back in Round 10. The inaccuracy bug hit the home side in the second half, but the Dogs still had no answers for the Magpies' onslaught. Port added 3.5 to Centrals' 2.2, at three quarter-time the gap was out to 40 points and the end of a long losing streak was clearly in sight. The 'Pies finished it off in the final term, kicking 4.4 to a poor 1.3 to run out 59-point winners and ending the horror run against the Bulldogs.

Young gun Aseri Raikiwasa was named best for Port, while Luke Habel was named best for the Dogs. Watch out Centrals... Westies smell blood.