Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley has lauded his playing group after the Power sealed a 22-point triumph over the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Friday evening, representing their 10th consecutive victory.
The Power was made to withstand a fourth-quarter Bulldogs surge but was able to secure the four points in large part due to Zak Butters' match-winning performance.
Hinkley, in his 11th season as coach of the Alberton club, spoke to the media post-game about the Power's consistency amid facing formidable opposition.
"I'm not sure we've ever been quite as consistent in some of the behaviours and I think that's what I'm most pleased about because we've won lots of tough games," Hinkley said.
"We've played lots of quality opposition, we've had one of the toughest drawers in the column and I think we've been able to answer all the challenges so far.
"We've won at home, won away, played Bulldogs at Adelaide, played them here. They were in pretty good form tonight, the Bulldogs, themselves.
"It's hard to answer it long-term about whether it's the best we've been but there's certainly great belief and it's growing. It's not going away, it's getting stronger and the boys are getting ample examples of what it looks like."
Butters notched 31 disposals, six marks, five tackles, a goal, and 531 metres gained, while Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli did his best to heave his side over the line, managing 31 possessions, six tackles, four marks, and a goal of his own.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge conceded the Power was able to get over the top of his side, however, put it down to his side's wastefulness going forward.
"Early in the game we squandered some of those opportunities and then they got them a bit too easy," Beveridge said.
"The boys hung in there and persevered but, ultimately, it was probably some of the blatant stuff, turnover-wise, that cost us a little bit."
Port Adelaide will look to make it 11 wins on the trot when it hosts Geelong at Adelaide Oval next Thursday night, while the Bulldogs will look to bounce back against North Melbourne next Sunday afternoon.
