Bulldogs scrap to tense win over Port in AFL thriller

The Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs have scored a crucial two-point win on the road against Port Adelaide. -AAP Image

The Western Bulldogs have banked a dramatic two-point victory over Port Adelaide to climb into the AFL's top eight.

The Dogs' Harvey Gallagher scored the go-ahead behind with only 24 seconds left in a tense 10.14 (74) to 10.12 (72) triumph at Adelaide Oval on Friday.

The Bulldogs (five wins, four losses) claimed eighth spot ahead of weekend games, while Port remain 13th with three wins and six defeats.

The Bulldogs were superbly served by on-ballers Ryley Sanders (31 disposals), skipper Marcus Bontempelli (30, one goal, 10 tackles) and Ed Richards (27 touches, one goal).

Attackers Aaron Naughton, Rhylee West and Will Lewis booted two goals each.

"Proud - there was some integrity in our performance," Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said.

"A bit messy ... (but) the boys hung in there."

Port's acting captain Zak Butters - against the club considered the frontrunner for his signature should he leave the Power at season-end - was typically prolific with 30 possessions.

Power spearhead Mitch Georgiades kicked 4.4 and halfback Kane Farrell (27 touches) and winger Jase Burgoyne (21) were busy but Port, for a third time in four games, lost by three points or less.

"We were horrible - the first half, especially ... just a really bad night," Power coach Josh Carr said.

The Bulldogs raced to a 20-0 advantage as the Power lost influential defender Miles Bergman to a toe injury.

Field umpire Daniel Johanson was also a casualty, felled by contact from Bulldog Ed Richards in the second minute and taken off the ground.

The Power's Georgiades booted two goals, both from technical holding free kicks against Buku Khamis, as the home side crept within seven points.

The Dogs increased their lead to 13 points, 6.2 to 4.1, at quarter-time via a late Naughton goal.

Port's Ewan MacKinlay reduced the deficit with an eye-catching major early in the second stanza, and when young teammate Jack Whitlock converted a 45m shot from a tight angle, the Power were only five points down.

The Bulldogs steadied with two strikes from Will Lewis to hold a handy 18-point buffer at halftime, 9.5 to 6.5. 

The Power again made inroads in the third quarter - Georgiades slotted his third goal, and a Logan Evans 55m bomb reduced the margin to six points.

Both clubs couldn't score another goal for the term - the Dogs recorded just one behind in the quarter, and held a five-point buffer at three quarter time, 9.6 to 8.7.

The visitors went 13 points clear when West ran into an open goal six minutes into the last term before a late Port charge.

Georgiades kicked his fourth major and Corey Durdin threaded a set shot to leave the hosts one point in arrears with two minutes and 34 seconds remaining.

The Power drew level with a rushed behind 30 seconds later.

But the Dogs pressed forward in the dying stages with Gallagher's checkside behind putting them in front, before Lewis scored another behind after the siren.