Saturday nights 71-point dismantling of Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval has set up a dream match-up against Melbourne, a team looking to win its first premiership since 1964.

While it is just the Bulldogs fourth ever grand final, it sets up a rematch of the day Ted Whitten and Charlie Sutton led the sons of the west to the premiership in 1954 when they defeated the Demons by 51 points.

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The match at Perth's Optus Stadium will be first grand final played in Western Australia, but while many of the both clubs' long-suffering supporters won't be able to go to the game, it will provide much-needed shot in the arm for Victorian football fans who have missed seeing their teams in action for the greater part of two years.

Ballarat fans have had just one chance to see their team in the past two years, when the Bulldogs defeated Brisbane earlier this season, with the second match against the Adelaide Crows played in front of empty stands as Victoria's winter lockdown took hold.

On Saturday night, it was once again cult hero Bailey Smith that was instrumental in the victory.

Following on his match-winning last quarter against Brisbane the previous week, Smith booted four goals as the Bulldogs ran riot over the stunned Power team, with the match all but decided by half time.

Like the Bulldogs, opponents Melbourne also had a walkover in the preliminary final, smashing Geelong by 83 points to reach its first decider since 2000.

It means, former North Ballarat Rebel Tom McDonald can join that rare club of former Rebel premiership players should the Demons win their 13^th flag on September 25.

But for every winner, there must be a loser and for four of the region's best exports, the season comes to an end.

Cats Jeremy Cameron and Isaac Smith and Power pair Willem Drew and Zac Butters, who originated from Darley, will have to wait until next season as they chase that elusive premiership.