After a shaky month which questioned Mark Williams’ future at Port Adelaide, the Power were finally able to put the focus back on the field and broke their two-match losing streak with a 19.14 (128) to 11.14 (80) win.
Port Adelaide added eight goals in the second quarter to create a match-winning lead, but the Lions closed the gap to just within two kicks at three quarter time.
However, Port was able to keep the Lions goalless in the final quarter, and scored six goals themselves to blow out the margin to eight goals.
To add insult to the loss, Lion Jared Brennan was reported for head-butting Josh Carr in the final quarter.
Danyle Pearce was excellent for the Power, picking up a game-high 35 touches. Brett Ebert kicked four goals while Justin Westhoff and Robbie Gray got three apiece.
Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan dominated the ruck and the midfield brigade ensured the Power won the clearances 44 to 21.
For the Lions, Jed Adcock had 29 possessions and Justin Sherman 26. Daniel Bradshaw, Albert Proud and Jonathan Brown each kicked two goals.
Westhoff starred early for Port Adelaide, kicking the first two goals of the game and playing an influential role up forward to start the match.
Brisbane struggled to penetrate forward early in the match, but picked up momentum late in the first quarter due to Port’s slippery hands in the midfield, and added majors off Rhan Hooper and Bradshaw, to take a narrow two-point lead to quarter time.
Ebert booted his first into the stands within the opening minute of the second quarter for the Power, quickly followed by another Westhoff goal as Port Adelaide began to find its feet in the midfield.
The Power dominated the stoppages and continued to press forward, but three quick Brisbane goals – two off Brown’s boot – closed the margin to just one point.
However, Port Adelaide continued to shell-shock the Brisbane defenders with excellent movement through the midfield and strong marking on the Power’s forward line, and Tredrea and Ebert stood up to kick five goals between them in the term, leading to a 20-point half-time deficit.
The game turned into a true battle in the third term, after Brisbane rallied to score three late goals and bring the margin back to just seven points at three quarter time.
The pressure of Port Adelaide in the midfield broke break game apart in the fourth quarter as the Power dominated with six unanswered goals off Gray, Brogan, Tom Logan, Lade and Krakouer.
Port Adelaide’s next assignment is Melbourne at the MCG.
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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