A six-goal haul from Brisbane forward Eric Hipwood has dragged the Lions across the line for a 17-point win over Port Adelaide at the Gabba.
The Power looked like they were going to claim the away win when Ollie Wines put his side 10 points ahead, 15 minutes into the last quarter.
However, goals to Oscar McInerney (after a sensational pack mark), Hipwood's sixth and Charlie Cameron’s first in the last few minutes of the game sealed the 16.11 (107) to 13.12 (90) win for the Lions.
Hipwood's half dozen equalled his career-best performance in front of goal.
Josh Walker was a rock for the Lions, taking 16 marks and racking up 23 possessions across the backline to nullify several Power forays forward, while Lachie Neale accumulated a game high 43-possessions.
For Port Adelaide, Connor Rozee’s five-goal performance was electric and one of the best games from a first-year player the Gabba has seen for many years.
Not only was Rozee dangerous in the forward 50m, the number five draft pick was confident when drifting up the ground, finishing with 21 disposals and seven marks.
Paddy Ryder also starred for the Power, brilliantly splitting his time between ruck (24 hit outs) and forward (three goals), while Sam Powell-Pepper had a great second half, driving his team forward with 14 third quarter disposals to finish with 29 possessions.
ROUND 5 AT THE GABBA IS SET TO SELLOUT! THE BEST WAY TO SECURE YOUR SEAT IS WITH A LIONS MEMBERSHIP!
Brisbane jumped out of gates with the first four goals of the game, a red-hot Hipwood scoring three of them from set shots.
Rozee kept the Power in touch with two first-quarter goals, punishing the Lions with the last of the term from a great long bomb after intercepting a Stef Martin kick on the back flank.
The Power dominated the second quarter but couldn’t make the Lions pay for an ill-disciplined term, burning several golden opportunities in front of goal to score 2.7.
Justin Westhoff hit the post from a set shot 25m out, while Brad Ebert spurned a chance running into the open goal face after Robbie Gray tapped the ball into his path instead of taking an uncontested mark.
The match marked Tom Rockliff's first trip to the Gabba since leaving via free agency at the end of 2017, and despite a few half-hearted boos early, the former Brisbane skipper was applauded off the ground after coming off second best in a collision with Hugh McCluggage in the third quarter.
Rockliff finished the last quarter on the bench after the hit.
It was a tough night out for Port Adelaide defender Dan Houston, who was crunched by a huge front-on bump from Charlie Cameron in the first term and later provided the platform for a huge Lincoln McCarthy mark in the third quarter.
The last time Brisbane beat Port Adelaide was in 2015, with the Lions losing the next five contests between the two sides by an average margin of 60 points.
It is the first time the Lions have won the first three games of the season since 2010.
MEDICAL ROOM
Brisbane:
Port Adelaide: Dan Houston was crunched by a front-on Charlie Cameron bump in the first quarter but was able to play out the game. Tom Rockliff came off in the arms of trainers in the third quarter after Hugh McCluggage looked to accidentally collect him high. Rockliff missed the last quarter.
NEXT UP
Brisbane takes a flight down to Melbourne to play Essendon at the MCG on Saturday afternoon. Port Adelaide heads back home to play Richmond at Adelaide Oval.
BRISBANE 5.2 8.4 11.6 16.11 (107)
PORT ADELAIDE 3.2 5.9 9.11 13.12 (90)
GOALS
Brisbane: Hipwood 6, Rayner 2, McStay 2, McCluggage 2, McInerney, Cameron, Neale, McCarthy
Port Adelaide: Rozee 5, Ryder 3, Boak 2, R.Gray 2, Wines
BEST
Brisbane: Hipwood, Walker, Robinson, Neale, Rich, McCarthy
Port Adelaide: Rozee, Powell-Pepper, Boak, Ryder, Burton, Lycett
INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Port Adelaide: Rockliff (head)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Chamberlain, Foot, Gianfagna
Official crowd: 19,958 at the Gabba
