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.
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.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Some years yet I reckon. Certainly next year I'm expecting us to finish 18th. I don't mind waiting if I can see there's a plan and progress being made, what I think has frustrated people this year is the lack of development and improvement. The continual regression and inconsistency of established players is alarming as well.
AR
Guest
The Lions need an AFL rescue package - and quickly. Very sad to see this club like this.
Gulfdrifter
Guest
Thanks Paul D - as ever, a clear & logical explanation. So this means we have to wait for the back-line to bulk up a bit and learn to play zone footy and man-on-man when required, wait for the forward line to bulk up a bit and learn some decent running patterns and for everybody's skill level to approach elite levels. Oh yeah, improved & broadened coaching staff, new best-practice training facilities, sound, wise & stable management, clever list management and retention of required players and then we will return to our winning ways. Doesn't sound too hard??@# (holding my breath - but for how long??).
Paul D
Roar Guru
I can't put the boot into the backline too much, most of them are kids apart from Merrett. Routinely the Lions have had about 4 teenagers holding up the back this season, Justin Clarke's retirement was a big blow too, he was a few years ahead of the rest of them and was really starting to show promise. Murray Davis is the transition strategy coach, Mitch Hahn is the backs coach. Personally though I don't think the Lions really have a choice, they either lose by 50 if they slow it down and don't attack, or they lose by 90 trying to attack so might as well swing big and start learning some good aggressive habits along the way.
Gulfdrifter
Guest
A question for Paul D - who is responsible for the Lions defensive coaching (assuming they surely have someone?) The Lions clearly have the worst performing back-line in the AFL - almost 450 points worse than the Bombers, which is quite stunning when you think about it. I'm assuming there is a strategy (however flawed) behind this because surely such a a glaring weakness would have been addressed by now. I'm thinking they are perhaps following the similarly flawed strategy that M Knights employed as Coach of the Bombers during 2010, i.e. all-out attack?
Paul D
Roar Guru
Another tough night at home for the club. I must confess I didn't bother watching this one, I thought from the team Leppa picked it wasn't going to be a competitive side and it was not. Interesting though that the Lions got out to a start and then just got crushed. Couple of times that has happened this year, they got out against Freo and then lost by 90. GWS as well. Same thing. I suspect what is happening is that teams are subconsciously letting the Lions get out to a start, almost mentally gauging how much effort they're going to have to put in to beat them and then just knocking them off. Either that or the Lions feel they're already playing their best and can't respond when the opposition crank it up a gear. It's becoming a pattern - but I think there's a fair mental stumbling block that is preventing this Lions team from doing well, this isn't just skills. No wonder the Lions are asking for a full-time sports psychologist for the club as part of the rescue package.
David C
Guest
Archie Smith was good on debut. Stef Martin wanted to go home to Vic last year but the lions talked him into staying. They might let him go now to get another draft pick. They've been linked to young ruckmen like Witts and Downie.