Brisbane conquered Port Adelaide
PORT ADELAIDE 5.2 8.3 14.8 14.9 (93)
BRISBANE LIONS 5.3 10.6 12.7 16.8 (104)
Brisbane has continued to finish its season strongly, accounting for a disappointing Port Adelaide by 11 points at AAMI Stadium.
The Lions handled the wet conditions much better than Port, who fell in a heap from a winnable position in the last quarter.
Led by by their captain Jonathan Brown who booted four goals, the Lions in the end proved to be too experienced when it mattered.
The Lions were quick to get underway, with youngsters Josh Green and Rohan Bewick kicking the first two goals of the game to skip away to a 12 point lead.
It seemingly looked like another bleak day for Port before Matt Thomas finally got the opening goal for the home team, which saw the start of a scintillating 8 minute spell for the Power. Thomas’ was followed in quick succession with goals to Schulz, Broadbent, Stewart and Boak provided a glimpse of what this Port team was capable of.
What followed showed however that it was the exception, rather than the rule as Port resumed normal transmission by committing poor turnovers and indisciplined acts to concede the last three goals of the quarter to Brisbane, as the Lions through Brown kicked a goal on the siren to go in a point ahead.
A Westhoff goal got Port’s second quarter underway with style, giving the home team back the lead. Goals to Beams and Brown however quickly returned the lead back to Brisbane.
Discipline was again becoming an issue for Port, as they continued to release the pressure on Brisbane by giving away cheap free kicks and 50metre penalties. Ebert continued with his good afternoon, responding to Brisbane’s consecutive goals before Brown once again gave the Lions breathing space.
Broadbent once again brought Port back under a goal before Green and Zorko capped off a good half with goals to put the Lions up by 15 points at half time.
The third quarter a reversal of roles, as Brisbane’s ill-discipline and lack of pressure resulted in a flourish of Port Adelaide goals.
The Power kicked the first five goals of the quarter to blot back in to the lead by as much as 17 points, as Brisbane stagnated like a team with no desperation to win. Brown managed to steady the ship for the Lions, going back to kick his fourth goal of the game. It was responded to very quickly as young dribbled through the answering goal to restore the margin.
A late goal to Zorko gave the visitors some hope going in to the final quarter, with the three quarter time margin at 13 points.
As it turned out, that faint hope is all the Lions needed. On again, the roles were reversed as Brisbane looked like the team that was playing to win. It resulted in Brisbane kicking the only four goals of the quarter, as Port Adelaide capitulated. Indeed, there was only one minute of game time remaining when Port Adelaide registered their only score of the quarter, a behind.
The Lions going on to claim their ninth win of the season by 11 points.
VOTES
3) Jonathan Brown
2) Jack Redden
1) Dayne Zorko
PORT ADELAIDE 5.2 8.3 14.8 14.9 (93)
BRISBANE LIONS 5.3 10.6 12.7 16.8 (104)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Broadbent (3), Westhoff (2), Schulz (2), Boak, Brett Ebert, Lobbe, Paul Stewart, Thomas, Young, Wingard
Brisbane Lions: Brown (4), Green (3), Zorko (3), Beams (2), Bewick, Lisle, Redden, Raines
BEST
Port Adelaide: Brad Ebert, Travis Boak, Matthew Broadbent, Justin Westhoff, Chad Wingard, Jay Schulz
Brisbane Lions: Jonathan Brown, Jack Redden, Dayne Zorko, Simon Black, Daniel Rich, Andrew Raines
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Brisbane Lions: Nil
SUBSTITUTIONS:
Port Adelaide: Danyle Pearce replaced Nathan Blee at half-time.
Brisbane Lions: Josh Drummond replaced Jordan Lisle at three-quarter time.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Fila, Armstrong
Official crowd: 13,953 at AAMI Stadium
