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The Brisbane Lions have slumped to a new low, belted by 94 points by Port Adelaide on Saturday night at the Gabba.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Brisbane 11.13.79
Port Adelaide 25.23.173
Port Adelaide Power are looking to keep their faint finals hopes alive when they take on the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:25pm (AEST).
The tenth-placed Power are three games out of the eight, but with their percentage they still have an outside chance of finals football if they can win their last five games.
They haven’t been able to win more than two games in succession this season, but since Round 5 they have compiled a 6-6 record, and in those six losses the biggest margin has been just 22 points.
However, Port are 0-7 against the top seven teams, with the Swans and Crows to come in their run home. Last week they blew a 20-point halftime lead in difficult conditions at home against the Giants, who overran them in the last half nine goals to three.
The Lions are coming off their first win since Round 4, defeating the bottom-placed Bombers by 37 points at Etihad Stadium and easing the pressure off beleaguered coach Justin Leppitsch. Brisbane scored their highest for the year, kicking 20 goals in an impressive performance.
Led by ruckman Stefan Martin and midfielders Tom Rockliff and Daniel Rich, the Lions would have also been encouraged by impressive displays from youngsters Rhys Mathieson, Liam Dawson, Tom Cutler, Josh Schache and particularly Eric Hipwood – the 200-centimetre Hipwood kicked the goal of the day, from near the boundary line.
Brisbane have included three more tall youngsters, with 201-centimetre Archie Smith and 197-centimetre Sam Skinner making their debuts, and 196-centimetre forward Michael Close returning from a serious knee injury to play only his second game in two years.
Prediction
Judging by selection the Lions don’t give themselves much of a chance, deciding to rest ruckman Martin after his best-on-ground performance last week.
Martin’s omission means that debutant Smith will be the lone ruckman, which will be a tough ask against the Power’s Jackson Trengove. This gives a strong Power midfield an even bigger advantage.
Port rank fourth in the league in clearances and the Lions 14th, and this is where Port will win the game.
Port Adelaide by 36 points.
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