Power forward Teakle leads Bulldogs rout at MCG
Key forward Julia Teakle has made the MCG her own to steer Port Adelaide to a commanding 40-point victory over the battling Western Bulldogs.
Fresh off a Showdown loss to Adelaide, Teakle booted four goals as the Power responded in impressive fashion to claim a 7.4 (46) to 0.6 (6) win at the MCG and get their season off the mark.
But the victory was soured by a potentially left knee injury to captain Janelle Cuthbertson in the third quarter.
Cuthbertson grabbed her already-strapped left knee after landing awkwardly from a physical aerial contest and was immediately helped from the ground.
She was ruled out of the rest of the match and will have scans.
Bulldogs star Ellie Blackburn appeared to suffer a shoulder injury in a heavy hit from Port Adelaide’s Ebony O’Dea in the third term but played on.
The game was moved from Whitten Oval to the MCG, and switched from a standalone game to a double header with the AFL elimination final between the Bulldogs and Hawthorn later on Friday night.
Teakle, 21, was the star of the show, delivering a commanding display in the air.
The Power forward hails from Northampton – the small town in Western Australia that also produced the likes of Patrick Cripps, West Coast champion Josh Kennedy and Harry Taylor.
Her cousin Brynn Teakle plays for North Melbourne while younger sister Tiani Teakle is coming through the U18 pathways.
Former Bulldog Kirsty Lamb kicked two goals, forward Gemma Houghton was influential, while the Power’s midfield shared the ball around.
It was another dire day for Tamara Hyett’s Bulldogs, who went goalless and have kicked just one goal across two games after a first-round thumping from GWS.
Isabelle Pritchard (22 touches) impressed along with Blackburn (25 disposals, seven clearances).
Lamb booted the first goal of the match inside the opening three minutes, with Teakle hammering home their second.
Lauren Arnell’s Power led by 11 at quarter time, before Teakle struck twice to nudge the halftime lead out to 23.
Port kicked three goals to the Bulldogs’ three points in the third term to extend their advantage to 40 at the final change.
Victory was a formality from there while Pritchard spurned a golden chance to claim the Dogs’ first goal late.
The Bulldogs (0-2) host West Coast at Whitten Oval next Thursday while Port (1-1) play Fremantle at Alberton next Saturday.
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