The Port Adelaide Power put behind a poor first half to cruise to a 40 point win over the Brisbane Lions.
The scoreline doesn’t do justice to the Lions, who were solid throughout the game.
The first quarter saw both clubs struggle in front of the goals. There were plenty of easy chances missed as the Power took a 15-point lead into the first change. A couple of late goals through Charlie Dixon and Robbie Gray saw the Power take the momentum towards the second quarter.
The second term was much the same as the first with both teams struggling to take advantage on the scoreboard.
Brisbane were far from pushovers throughout the quarter and got the margin back to 3 points, but again the defence broke down in the dying stages of the quarter and the Power were able to take the same lead with them into the second half.
Ryan Lester and Ollie Wines were the standouts for each team in the first half. Ryan Bastinac for the Lions was the only multiple goal scorer for the half.
The third quarter started with a bang with both clubs trading goals early. A six goal to four quarter from the Power saw them extend their lead and they never looked back from there.
Paddy Ryder stood tall for the Power throughout the game and his time forward led to him kicking 2 for the game. Despite the Power moving away in that term the Lions still looked a chance at an upset after a late goal.
The final term started perfectly for the Lions as they kicked the opening goal thanks to a special piece of one man magic from Eric Hipwood.
The fight back was short lived however with Port going goal for goal with the Lions throughout the final term. A goal to Sam Gray put the sealer on the Lions and then Jake Neade added the final nail in the coffin.
Port now moves into the top 4 while Brisbane stay anchored to the bottom of the ladder. Brisbane can leave the game with their head held high after performing above expectation, while the Power will have to question how they can put lower teams away earlier.
Next week Port faces Collingwood Magpies, Brisbane takes on the Greater Western Giants.
Final score
Port Adelaide Power 18.13 121
Brisbane Lions 12.9 81
Paul D
Roar Guru
Didn’t get a chance to see the game live but watched the replay yesterday evening. I thought we played really well. Port win that game 19 times out of 20 so to stay with them for as long as we did after they slaughtered us by 90 odd earlier this season was a much better effort. We seriously need to axe Harwood. By some margin the biggest passenger in the team. My usual scapegoat Lester is working his butt off and seems to have found a new boost of confidence. I’m going to go out there and say the Lions can beat GWS next week. Injuries for them, bit of arrogance in that outfit. They’re coming off the bye – I reckon we can bushwhack them at the Gabba if they’re not up for the challenge. It’s funny, but you do get excited about close losses because it shows the improvement is there, and frankly going down by ‘only’ 40 points mainly due to the last few minutes is almost a relief after some of the wallopings we’ve had.
Matt
Guest
Percentage is a good indicator of playing in a grand final. Only Port and Adelaide have the percentage that warrants a grand final at this stage (what a grand final that would be!). GWS and Geelong both have percentages that could take them to a grand final. I think GWS and Adelaide are the teams to beat, as even with long injury lists they are sitting 1 and 2, they clearly have more depth than the other sides and look at the players they have to come back in or that they are not playing. As has been pointed out Port have had few injuries and their depth, which is the weakest of the top 4, has not been tested. Still if Angus Monfries and Matt White get their bodies right and find some form they will be big additions to Port come the finals. I believe the winner will be from the current top 4, with maybe WC and WB a chance. Swans are a smokey but will probably not make the finals.
Powerboy
Guest
Thanks Sammy. Damned with faint praise by a Crows fan...... The worst kind of insult for a Port Power fan. As for the comments from Julian - what's new? The usual claptrap about who has been beaten by the Power over TWELVE rounds. I am very sure that come the end of the minor rounds the entire competition will have sorted itself out and where your team is on the ladder is where your team deserves to be. I see no comments about Geelong losing three in a row before winning three on their postage stamp ground. Geelong fans may well make hay while the sun shines....considering they have yet to win the TWO matches against GWS coming up, The Crows fans will find out exactly where they are when the second showdown of the year rolls around. Richmond speak for themselves - especially when they will confront the scars of their last final against the Power at Adelaide oval in two weeks time. Sure, the Eagles can't travel, the Dogs can't settle a side and who knows who else will show up..... As Sammy rightly said, you can only beat the team that shows up on the day. Until the finals, all fans from all teams can bitch and gripe about their favourite bugbears, but one thing is certain. The two Adelaide teams will be in it for a long way purely due to percentages that will keep them above any team with the same amount of wins. That will only lead to finals seedings that will put them at a distinct advantage when venues are decided. From the Power's perspective, fourth spot doesn't sound that bad should Adelaide top the table. No fear there.
sammy
Guest
They have also had the best possible run without injuries this year apart from the odd one like Polec last night so they have had their best kit on the park. But for all the flat track bully commentary, they still sit inside the top 4 and with their run home, they are every chance to finish there or thereabouts and it does not really matter how you get there. I am a crows supporter from the very beginning and don't like port one little bit, but credit where it is due, you can only beat teams as they present and some of their losses this year have been quite close. I am not convinced that they can go all the way, but finals is a certainty and they may win a final this year and that would be a big step forward for them
Julian
Roar Rookie
Flat-track bullies. I'm yet to see anything by this team that in any way justifies the media hype behind them. They haven't beaten a team in the top 8. Their best win was against a terrible, terrible Sydney in round 2 and they smash bad teams. What is so intoxicating about PA that the media (not this article) trip over themselves to praise them at the first signs of green shoots. Dixon is emblematic of the team, looks great but crumbles when the game isn't going his way.