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The Brisbane Lions have caused one of the upsets of the season with a 37 point win over Port Adelaide at the GABBA on Sunday night.
BRISBANE 15 12 102
PORT ADELAIDE 8 17 65
In a match which turned in the second quarter, the Lions would kick six straight goals and hold on in the second half, to record one of their best wins in years.
Port had chances to mount a comeback but were incredibly inaccurate in front of goal which cost them dearly.
In the early stages of the match, they dominated, as they kicked the opening two goals.
Brisbane would respond with a goal of their own as the quarter turned into a battle between the midfield in the opening stages of the match.
Port would lead by 7 points at quarter time, in a close quarter, which saw them take their chances and the Lions struggle in front of goal.
In the second quarter though, this changed, and the Lions dominated the contest.
After both teams kicked one goal, in the early stages of the quarter, the Lions kicked four straight goals to open up a lead.
Two goals to Christensen, and one to Green and McStay, opened up a 21 point lead at half time.
The run from the Lions hurt the Power and they were able to get plenty of numbers in attack.
They extended the lead to 27 points shortly after before Port made a comeback.
Two quick goals to Monfries reduced the margin to 15 points and the Power were back in it.
The teams then exchanged a goal each before the Lions kicked away towards the end of the third term.
A contentious deliberate out of bounds decision against Port, gave the Lions a goal to Zorko, before Jed Adcock kicked a long bomb to extend the margin to 27.
Port would then kick four straight behinds, as they tried to comeback into the match.
This reduced the margin to 25 at three quarter time but it could have been so much less.
Two further points reduced the margin to 23 before the Lions made them pay in a big way.
A big goal from Mitch Robinson, who kicked three goals, gave them a 29 point lead before Wingard reduced it to 24 with 15 minutes to go.
That would be the closest Port would get as Brisbane kicked three straight goals to win the game.
Daniel Rich, who starred with 23 touches, sealed the game with a goal from 45 metres out.
The final margin, which was 37 points, was reduced with a goal to first gamer Karl Amon right on full time.
Brisbane won the match in the midfield today and outscored the Power by almost 5 goals in stoppages.
Port were also poor in skills and failed to take their chances.
The season is starting to slip away for them and next weeks game against Richmond, in Kane Cornes’ final game, is the biggest of the season for them.
Brisbane, on the back of two straight wins, now face Essendon in Melbourne on Sunday.
The Brisbane Lions will be looking for their second win of 2015 when they take on the Port Adelaide Power at the Gabba on Sunday night. Join The Roar for live scores and blog of the match from 4:40pm AEST.
Two weeks ago, this match would have been a formality, with Port in form and Brisbane winless.
Now the match has a little bit of intrigue after last week’s results.
Port were beaten at home by West Coast with Brisbane winning their first game of the season against Carlton at Etihad Stadium.
Despite winning against both Hawthorn and Adelaide, Port Adelaide have not hit the form that took them to the preliminary final last year.
The run, which won them many games in the final quarter, isn’t there this year and they have conceded plenty of inside 50’s.
On average they have conceded 68 inside 50’s per game in the last three rounds.
If they continue to do that then Port will lose more games than they win in the season.
The club was also rocked during the week by the retirement of Kane Cornes, who is joining the MFS to become a firefighter.
He will play his 299th match today, and then retire after his 300th next weekend against Richmond.
It has been a stellar career by Cornes and it will be interesting the see the impact his retirement has on the team.
At the selection table, they have made multiple changes, with two players omitted and one out with injury.
Alipate Carlisle is out with a back injury with Aaron Young and Brendon Ah Chee omitted. In comes Cam O’Shea, Jarman Impey and Karl Amon.
Amon, who is in the 22, will play his first ever match for the Power today. He becomes the 156th player to represent the famous club.
Brisbane on the other hand have not made any changes to the side that triumphed over the Blues.
In recent matches between the two, Port Adelaide have won the last two, including a 113 point win in Round 4 last year.
Jay Schulz would kick seven goals, and Travis Boak would have 41 disposals, in the rout.
In Brisbane though, the ledger is different.
Port have only won four times at the Gabba in 14 matches and their last win was in 2007.
Two of those matches, in 1997 and 1998, were famous draws that made this a nice rivalry between the two.
In 2004 that became intensified when Port Adelaide ruined the Lions hopes of a four peat in the Grand Final.
The key to this match lies in the midfield.
It is the strength of the Lions with Dayne Beams, Tom Rockliff, Lewis Taylor, Allen Christensen, Daniel Rich and Jack Redden all among the best for the club. If Port can shut this down then they should win the match.
If they don’t then Brisbane could cause them problems with the high inside 50 rate the Power have conceded to their opposition in the last three matches.
Port should win. The gulf between the two teams is still there regardless of the match being played in Brisbane or Adelaide.
Don’t be surprised though if Brisbane gives them a real scare and matches them for three quarters.
Prediction: Port by 18 points.
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