SUMMARY
What was considered a foregone conclusion has suddenly turned into a danger game for Port Adelaide as it looks to resurrect its top-four aspirations. So impressive through the opening 10 rounds of the season, the Power suffered its first major setback with an embarrassing 70-point thumping at the hands of Essendon last week. That's left the Power (6-5) in fifth place on the ladder, but equal with five other teams on 24 competition points. The Power cannot afford another slip-up, especially against a rebuilding Brisbane Lions side. The last-placed Lions (2-9) turned in their best performance of the season to snap a nine-game losing streak, beating Fremantle by 57 points last week. Lions midfielders Dayne Zorko and Dayne Beams are in wonderful form, and if they are able to fire against the Power, the Lions might just have a chance of causing an upset.
WHERE AND WHEN: Adelaide Oval, Saturday, June 17, 4.05pm ACST (4.35pm AEST)
LAST FIVE TIMES
R6, 2017, Port Adelaide 22.18 (150) d Brisbane Lions 10.7 (67) at the Gabba
R19, 2016, Port Adelaide 25.23 (173) d Brisbane Lions 11.13 (79) at the Gabba
R7, 2016, Port Adelaide 21.10 (136) d Brisbane Lions 7.17 (59) at Adelaide Oval
R7, 2015, Brisbane Lions 15.12 (102) d Port Adelaide 8.17 (65) at the Gabba
R4, 2014, Port Adelaide 24.15 (159) d Brisbane Lions 7.4 (46) at Adelaide Oval
THE THREE POINTS
1. Against Fremantle, the Brisbane Lions won all four quarters for the first time since 2014. The Lions also had their best defensive game (64 points) since 2015.
2. Brisbane Lions young guns Jake Barrett (14.4), Jarrod Berry (13.4) and Hugh McCluggage (10.9) are all coming off career-high scores in the AFL Player Ratings. Barrett, with 24 possessions, was important for the Lions in their 57-point victory over Fremantle last weekend.
3. Port average 103 points per game compared to the Lions who average 82 points. Both teams average just under 40 clearances per match.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Stefan Martin
After dominating against Fremantle, Stefan Martin will face a much tougher test against Port linchpin, Paddy Ryder. Martin paved the way for the Lions to win the first 11 clearances against Fremantle on the weekend, setting the Lions up for a monster first quarter. As Beams, Zorko and co showed on Saturday, if Martin can get the upper hand over Ryder and win the ruck, the Lions' chances of causing an upset will rise.
