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The Roar

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Highlights: Pumped-up Power tear Lions apart

We're going over there -the Power will play against the Suns in Shanghai next year. (AAP Image/Ben Macmahon)
Roar Guru
30th July, 2016
7

Port Adelaide kept their very faint finals hopes alive when they thrashed a disappointing Brisbane Lions by 94 points at the Gabba on Saturday night.

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The Power kicked their second highest score ever and their highest since 2008.

After a competitive and entertaining first term the Power dominated the last three quarters, outscoring the Lions 21 goals to seven.

Port’s midfielders did as they pleased with Robbie Gray, Ollie Wines and Travis Boak racking up over ninety possessions between them as the Power dominated the inside 50 count 77-48. They also out marked the Lions 30-11 for marks inside 50.

The Lions started well with ruck debutant Archie Smith showing a great leap at centre bounces and dominating the hit-outs 13-2 in the first quarter.

Daniel Rich continued on from last week and it looked like they had carried over some of their confidence from last week’s win over the Bombers.

But after quarter time the Power took charge. Trengove got on top of young Smith and predictably dominated the ruck for the rest of the night in Stefan Martin’s absence.

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Too many times Port was able to transition the ball far too easily from defence to their forward line through the middle of the ground as the Lions’ pressure fell off completely.

Seven Port players finished with 25 plus possessions and Lions coach Justin Leppitsch would have been dismayed to see his team offer so little resistance.

For Port they still have some faint hope for the finals thanks to their good percentage and coach Ken Hinkley would have been happy with their four quarter domination of the Lions.

Final score
Port Adelaide 25.23.(173)
Brisbane 11.13.(79)

The Roar’s AFL MVP votes
3. Robbie Gray (Port) – 32 possessions, 15 contested and 11 inside 50s, he was his usual busy self.

2. Jackson Trengove (Port) – Dominated the middle even though Lions won the hit-out count. Finished with 20 contested possessions and 15 clearances and used his experience to outsmart debutant Archie Smith to give his midfielders first use.

1. Travis Boak (Port) – Could have given this to four or five others but thought early when the game was there to be won, Boak was most effective.

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