THE Western Bulldogs slumped to a third consecutive loss to Port Adelaide on Friday night, but Dogs fans woke up on Saturday morning thinking what could\u2019ve been.<\/p>\n
Luke Beveridge\u2019s found themselves behind for much of Friday night\u2019s contest but got on a roll in the final term with two consecutive goals, the first time they\u2019d managed that feat since the first quarter.<\/p>\n
A Cody Weightman snap later look set to narrow the margin to eight points with four minutes to play and hand the home side all the momentum.<\/p>\n
But a free kick was paid against Bulldogs substitute Oskar Baker for a block on the goal line, and from there Port Adelaide was destined to record its tenth straight win.<\/p>\n
The Dogs had been outplayed for the majority of Friday night, but Gerard Whateley said he believes they were cruelly denied a last spin of the dice.<\/p>\n
\u201cPort was going to win anyway, but that was the Dogs\u2019 last hope,\u201d Whateley told AFL Nation post-game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat ball does go through for a goal, that free kick never gets paid, it brings the margin back to less than two goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s inexplicable that free kick got paid, I don\u2019t think it meets any marker.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s never paid! It wasn\u2019t egregious, it wasn\u2019t a drag around the neck or a flat push in the back, it was a shoulder-to-shoulder contest to clear the way for the ball to finish its path.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just don\u2019t understand how it got paid.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whateley also can\u2019t accept the defence that the incident was in a marking contest, thus deserving of a free kick.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think they\u2019ve got that out. I think the ball is through for a goal, I think it\u2019s a straight up and down error,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ken Hinkley’s side kicked the final three goals of the game to record a 22-point win.<\/p>\n
But just as crucially, the Bulldogs’ could now fall out of the top eight as early as Saturday night as a consequence.<\/p>\n