The Power blew away a persistent Lions outfit in the final quarter with six goals to nile to win 19.14 (128) to 11.14 (80) and dent the visitors’ chances of a top-four finish.
Port dominated the stoppages where it got on top of the Lions’ more experienced midfield, winning the hit outs (36-24) and clearances (44-21).
Up forward, Brett Ebert kicked four goals, and Justin Westhoff and Robbie Gray three each, while Danyle Pearce had a game-high 35 touches.
The Lions’ defeat was soured by Jared Brennan’s report for head butting Josh Carr in the final quarter.
The Lions were well served by Jed Adcock (29 possessions), with Jonathan Brown, Daniel Bradshaw and Albert Proud the only multiple goal kickers with two apiece.
The Power got off to the perfect start with Westhoff getting the opening two goals of the game.
The Lions on the other hand struggled to move the ball out of defence. Eventually, a string of handballs freed up Rhan Hooper and enabled him to get their first goal.
Justin Sherman was seeing plenty of the ball in the midfield with 12 disposals as the Lions headed to quarter time with a two-point lead after Daniel Bradshaw got their second goal.
But the danger signs were there for the Lions with Port dominating the clearances (13-5).
The Power made the most of their midfield domination in the second term and four unanswered goals, including a third to Westhoff had the home side out to a 19-point lead.
Jonathan Brown, who had struggled to get into the game, stopped the rot with a smart snap, and in similar fashion to the first quarter, the momentum swung towards the Lions.
Sloppy turnovers allowed the visitors two quick goals to Bradshaw and Brown and suddenly the gap was back to just a point.
Port’s forward line again began to cause all kinds of trouble for the Brisbane Lions defence, and it piled on another four goals for a season-best eight-goal quarter.
Sherman capped a wonderful 23 possession half with a great check-side goal, but Port’s firepower up forward was enough to give it a 20 point advantage at the main break.
The Power continued to assert its authority early in the third term and Danyle Pearce, who was seeing plenty of the ball with 21 touches to half time, bombed from outside 50m to extend the home side’s advantage.
In a game that continued to ebb and flow, the Lions again found themselves behind the eight-ball, but refused to lie down as Albert Proud and Travis Johnstone kept the visitors in touch.
A needless 50m penalty against Hooper allowed Steven Salopek to settle Port and just as they had all day, the Power won the following centre clearance and Ebert ran in to kick his fourth.
The Lions were showing true fighting spirit, typified by Daniel Rich’s brave mark, as three consecutive goals got them to within seven points at the final break.
Determined not to be undone, Port was again on the front foot early and with six unanswered goals, including two to Robbie Gray, they made sure there would be no repeat of last year’s remarkable defeat against the Lions, romping home for a comfortable victory.
MATCH DETAILS
Port Adelaide 2.2 10.3 13.6 19.14 (128)
Brisbane Lions 2.4 6.7 11.11 11.14 (80)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Ebert 4, Westhoff 3, Gray 3, Tredrea 2, Cornes, Pearce, Salopek, Brogan, Logan, Lade, Krakouer
Brisbane Lions: Bradshaw 2, Brown 2, Proud 2, Hooper, Sherman, Johnstone, Black, Rich
BEST
Port Adelaide: Rodan, Cassisi, Burgoyne, Pearce, Ebert, Brogan, Gray
Brisbane Lions: Sherman, Adcock, Power, Rich
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Brisbane Lions: Nil
Reports:
Port Adelaide: Troy Chaplin for charging Daniel Rich in the third term.
Brisbane Lions: Jared Brennan for head butting Josh Carr in the final term.
Umpires: Margetts, McLaren, Kamolins
Official Crowd: 20,293 at AAMI Stadium
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs.
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