An historic day at North Port Oval was spoiled by a thoroughly impressive Footscray outfit in the VFL on Saturday.
As Port Melbourne honoured its two greatest goalkickers, Fred Cook and Bob Bonnett (2171 goals for Port between them), with naming rights at the hallowed ground’s respective ends, it was the Bulldogs who stole the show.
Booting seven straight goals in the opening term, Footscray went on to record an upset 19.8 (122) to 13.8 (86) win.
PICTURE GALLERY: Footscray v Port Melbourne
The Borough fought hard throughout the afternoon, kicking a late first-quarter goal to keep in touch at the first break.
They controlled play for much of the second term before the Bulldogs restored the gap with a couple of late goals resulting from free kicks.
Again in the third quarter Port Melbourne had the momentum early, but aside from Dan Connors – who thrilled with several big marks and four goals – struggled to make a statement on the scoreboard.
The Borough hit the front through Tomi Johnston but the Bulldogs got three goals in junk time to establish a 14-point lead at the final break.
In fact the most interesting part of red time for Port fans in the third was ABC boundary rider and Coburg legend Phil Clearly trading stories with Cook over the fence.
As Cook and Bonnett watched on the Bulldogs dominated the last term.
Mitch Honeychurch was terrific with five goals in a standout performance, while the likes of Nick Lower, Jake Stringer and Lachie Hunter were all important.
Hardman Toby Pinwill was best for Port.
Borough coach Gary Ayres said his team failed to match the efficiency of their opponents.
“You have to acknowledge when a side’s in pretty good form,” he said after the game.
“What good sides do is create opportunities through mistakes or errors and we allowed far too many scores.
“They won far too much of the ball and their efficiency with their feet and hands was far superior to us today.
“When we had the momentum we couldn’t kick a goal to give us that two-and-a-half-goal gap whereas they were clinical.”
Meanwhile, Sandringham enjoyed a comfortable 14.20 (104) to 8.12 (60) win over Collingwood, with former Hawk Shane Savage best on ground.
