AFL Preliminary Final Port v Bulldogs player ratings: Who starred, who flopped

The Bulldogs face tough selection calls with players returning from injury for the grand final. Who will miss out? See who stood up in the prelim for both teams. VOTE NOW

Preliminary Final player ratings: Bulldogs v Port

This was an ambush.

It was supposed to be the game the Bulldogs could not win and Port Adelaide should not lose.

The Dogs had travelled to four states in three weeks, had been denied the chance to have a captain’s run training session on Adelaide Oval on Friday, captain Marcus Bontempelli was banged up and they were missing small forward firecracker Cody Weightman and Charlie Dixon stopper Alex Keath.

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In contrast, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley said on Friday he could not have imagined a better lead-up for his side, given it was nearly injury-free, was playing at home and had won seven matches in a row.

But any thought this was going to be a Power party, like the 43-point one-sided qualifying final victory against Geelong, was over early.

Port Adelaide was down by 58 after two terms.

This was the blowout no one saw coming.

The Dogs have plenty of high ratings players, for Port it’s not good reading.

Check out our expert ratings and leave your own!

Originally published as AFL Preliminary Final Port v Bulldogs player ratings: Who starred, who flopped