Port Adelaide has survived a massive scare from a gallant Brisbane Lions outfit to continue its perfect start to the season.
On a hot Saturday afternoon at Adelaide Oval, the Power slowed to a walk in the last quarter before hanging on by five points – 14.13 (97) to 14.8 (92) – in front of a crowd of 36,363.
Lions ruckman Stefan Martin – the best player on the ground – had the last kick of the game as he attempted to find a teammate inside the forward 50, but Power defender Dougal Howard grabbed the mark as the final siren went.
Allen Christensen had the chance to win it the final minute, but his snap fell just short with Jared Polec taking a match-saving mark on the line.
After trailing by 11 points at half-time, the Power booted six of the next seven goals to open up a 23-point lead at the 27-minute mark of the third term.
But the rebuilding Lions, who lost skipper Dayne Beams to illness pre-match, showed a lot of fight to boot the only three goals of the last term to give the Power an almighty fright.
Martin (30 possessions, 14 contested, 48 hit-outs and nine inside
Tom Cutler – a late inclusion for skipper Beams – made the most of his chance with 21 disposals, Mitch Robinson worked hard (23 disposals) and former Adelaide forward Charlie Cameron booted three goals in his return to Adelaide Oval.
The Power were hot favourites to win their first three games of the season for the first time since 2013, but the young Lions – who showed positive signs in losses to St Kilda (by 25 points) and Melbourne (by 26 points) – had other ideas.
They were outstanding in the second quarter with their run and carry, along with playing excellent team defence to shut down the Power.
Five goals to three in the term gave the Lions a surprise 11-point advantage at the long break.
The Power responded through Justin Westhoff, Jack Watts and former Lions skipper Tom Rockliff – in his first game against his old club – to put their n
Cutler got one back f
A late goal to Cedric Cox put the Lions back within 18 points at the last change.
The intensity ramped up when the 2016 No.1 overall draft pick Hugh McCluggage booted his second goal of the game to keep the Lions close.
Eric Hipwood's goal in the 18th minute narrowed the margin to 10 points as the visitors refused to go away.
And when Hipwood beat Howard back towards goal and converted, it was back to a four-point game at the 23-minute mark.
"I think the average losing margin at the Adelaide Oval was 91 points
"In the end, Port had more inside
"We'll take away plenty from the game, we'll learn a lot from it, we'll get some confidence from it."
PORT ADELAIDE 4.6 7.7 14.8 14.13 (97)
BRISBANE 4.0 9.6 11.8 14.8 (92)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: S.Gray 3, Motlop 2, Dixon, R.Gray, Marshall, Wingard, Westhoff, Watts, Rockliff, Ebert, Boak
Brisbane: Cameron 3,
BEST
Port Adelaide: S.Gray, Polec, Wines, Hartlett, Ebert, Wingard
Brisbane: Martin, Cutler, Zorko, Robinson, Hodge, Hipwood, Christensen
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Wines (ankle)
Brisbane: D.Beams (illness) replaced in the selected side by Tom Cutler
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Meredith, Harris, Mitchell
Official crowd: 36,363 at the Adelaide Oval
