Bontempelli's 26 disposals featured two goals and seven inside-50s in his side's 15.6 (96) to 12.5 (77) triumph in Saturday night's high-class affair at Adelaide Oval.

"There aren't enough superlatives to describe him as a player," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said of his captain.

"He is an outstanding person but he's just such a brilliant, match-winning footballer. He was pretty significant again tonight."

Bontempelli's tenacious teammate Tom Liberatore was also superb, with 27 touches and a dozen clearances as the Bulldogs took top spot on the ladder.

Melbourne can regain top-billing with a win over Carlton on Sunday, while Port slip from third to fifth after their third loss of the season.

The Doggies' renowned midfield was in top form: Bontempelli, Liberatore, Jack Macrae (32 disposals), Adam Treloar (26), Bailey Dale (23), and Bailey Smith (25) were prolific ball-winners.

Forward Aaron Naughton booted four goals and took a trademark hanger of a mark, the lively Cody Weightman scored three, and Jason Johannisen and Josh Bruce kicked two apiece.

Port on-ballers Ollie Wines (32 disposals) and Travis Boak (30 possessions), and defender Darcy Byrne-Jones (24 touches) were gallant, while Mitch Georgiades, Charlie Dixon and Orazio Fantasia kicked two majors each.

"We're good, we're not great yet," Port coach Ken Hinkley said.

"We are in the build of getting there ... we have still got to get to the other level."

The Dogs blitzed Port early, booting five consecutive goals in a stunning 16-minute burst in the first term orchestrated by the brilliance of Bontempelli and Liberatore's grunt around the packs.

The visitors led 6.2 to 2.1 at quarter-time despite losing defender Easton Wood to a hamstring strain.

But the tide turned Port's way in remarkable fashion in the second stanza as the home side scored five unanswered goals from five inside-50s in a tick over nine explosive minutes.

The sudden surge gave Port the lead, though they lost defender Tom Clurey to a suspected broken jaw following an accidental clash of heads.

The Dogs led by one point at halftime and gained a vital edge in the third term, booting four goals to one.

Two of the visitors' goals came from Naughton: one after his head was driven into the ground by a Tom Jonas tackle; the other after he climbed onto Jonas' shoulders for a spectacular high mark.

The Bulldogs held a 21-point advantage at three-quarter time but, in the last term, Port rallied to twice sneak within eight points.

But the Bulldogs' Weightman sealed the win with less than four minutes remaining, crumbing a pack in the goal-square and snapping over his head, with his teammate Naughton soon adding another.

Australian Associated Press