Port Adelaide trounce Essendon in AFL

Port Adelaide’s attacking duo Charlie Dixon and Mitch Georgiades have booted four goals each in a 54-point drubbing of a lacklustre Essendon.

Premiership fancies Port ruthlessly dismantled the Bombers 18.11 (119) to 9.11 (65) at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Essendon’s bleak day was compounded by losing star onballer Dylan Shiel and ruckman Sam Draper to leg injuries.

The Bombers were also without skipper Dyson Heppell, who was a late withdrawal because of back spasms.

The Power also lost a player pre-game to a back ailment with Todd Marshall replaced by Georgiades, who made an instant impact.

Georgiades and Dixon booted two goals apiece as Port blitzed the Bombers in the opening term.

Just 15 minutes in, the Power led 5.1 to nothing and the contest was effectively decided.

With Zak Butters and Dan Houston particularly prominent, Port stretched their lead to a whopping 49 points some 18 minutes into the second stanza.

From then, the closest Essendon crept was 37 points just before halftime as they slipped to consecutive losses to open their season.

Port’s Butters (36 disposals, six clearances, one goal) and Houston (25 touches, one goal) were brilliant while Ollie Wines (38 possessions), Travis Boak (30 disposals, nine clearances) and Willem Drew (25 touches) formed a dominant midfield.

Their collective command helped Port win the inside-50 count 62 to 39, providing a feast of chances to Dixon and Georgiades, as well as Steven Motlop and Peter Ladhams, who both booted two goals.

Former Essendon goalsneak Orazio Fantasia was relatively quiet but still managed 2.3 from his 17 possessions as his teammates ensured his first game against his old club ended with a comprehensive victory – the second in a row for Port this season.

Essendon forwards Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Cale Hooker kicked three goals apiece, Jordan Ridley collected a team-high 32 disposals while Zach Merrett had 28 touches.