Port Adelaide vs Brisbane Lions: AFL live scores

 

Roar Guru

By The Roar, 25 Aug 2012

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 AFL, Brisbane Lions, live blog, Port Adelaide

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The Brisbane Lions could finish the season on a high, as they hit the road to take on Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. We’ll have live scores from 2.10pm AEST.

The Brisbane Lions stunned many last week when they fought back from a terrible first quarter to get past potential premiership contenders Adelaide.

Daniel Merrett was one of the standouts, keeping Kurt Tippett goalless for the match. For a player who has been switched forward and back all season, and at times quite successful up forward, his defensive pressure is his biggest asset. He could prove a handful for the Port Adelaide forward line.

Brisbane’s midfield dominance after quarter time was another spark for the Lions getting on top of the Crows, as they ended up winning the disposal and efficiency count, while also getting on top in the clearances. Against a Port Adelaide team that has struggled to get on top in midifeld battles this gives Brisbane more reason to be favourites.

Their record of late at AAMI Stadium isn’t all that bad, beating Adelaide on their last trip and Port Adelaide three of their last four.

For Port Adelaide, it’s so important for them to finish the season on the right note, especially after the trials and tribulations of the last couple of weeks – losing their president and coach while also fuelling talk that some of their big names will leave at the end of the season.

A win would actually see them go past their record of 2011 and have actually played much better than last year.

Interim coach Garry Hocking has been talking tough in the lead up to this week’s game saying every single player is on notice. But, let’s be serious – every fill-in coach says that after a difficult season.

No doubt we’ll start to see the Power blood some more youngsters in the next week or so, but to get Travis Boak back is a major plus – he was sorely missed in last week’s loss to West Coast.

In his last 3 matches against the Lions, Boak has averaged around 25 disposals. A strong showing from him will be needed if the Power are to get on top in the midfield battle. And with this likely to be his last game at AAMI Stadium (much of the talk suggesting he’ll be leaving at season’s end), he’ll be hoping to leave on a good note.

The key for mine for Port Adelaide is Danyle Pearce – a player who has once again had an on-and-off season. In the last three or four weeks, he has stood up to the expectations and been able to get the stats we expect. If he can rack up 25-plus possessions and set up a couple of goals, Port Adelaide might just sneak home with the crowd behind them.

Either way, despite nothing really being on the line, this is actually quite a fascinating contest. A chance for the Lions to win back-to-back games for just the second time this season.

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