Australian Football

Match Report

Port Adelaide has kept its slim finals chances alive with a crushing win over a hapless Brisbane Lions side at the Gabba on Saturday night. As has often been the case this year, the Lions started the match strongly, kicking three of the first four goals of the match, but fell away badly once the pressure was on, ultimately being crushed by 94 points by the Power despite being just five points behind at quarter time.

A mark and goal to Dayne Zorko a the two-minute mark got Brisbane off to a perfect start and things got even better when Eric Hipwood kicked the Lions' second two minutes later. Port then got itself into the match with behinds to Jared Polec and John Butcher followed by a goal to Justin Westhoff. A strong mark and goal to John Walker had Brisbane ahead by 10 points after 10 minutes but the Power got on top after that, majors to Travis Boak, Karl Amon and Chad Wingard giving them an 11-point lead after 25 minutes before a late goal to Josh Green had Brisbane within five points at quarter time. 

The match looked like developing into a dour affair in the early stages of the second term, each side managing no more than a behind for the first seven minutes. Westhoff's second extended Port's lead to 11 points, but the next five minutes again saw the two teams exchange behinds only. Finally, a major to Wingard at the 13-minute mark and over the next 15 minutes the Power piled on another five goals - three of those to own Butcher - to set up a decisive 47-point half-time lead. 

Jackson Trengove extended the lead beyond 50 almost as soon as the second half began with a running goal after just 38 seconds. The Lions showed some spirit over the the next 10 minutes with two of the next three goals but Port then added four majors in seven minutes - one each to Wingard, Aaron Young, Boak and Amon as it extended the lead to 70 points early in time on. The Lions finished off the term with two of the last three goals but it was Port by 62 at orange time. 

The start of the final term replicated that of the second, with seven minutes passing without a goal. When the goal did come, it went the Power's way via Brad Ebert, and Port then went on to add another six majors, with two more to Wingard to give him an equal personal-best five for the match. Michael Close and Tom Rockliff added a couple of goals for the Lions in that period, but the final siren saw Port a long way ahead, just one goal shy of a 100-point win.  

Ollie Wines was a standout for the victors, with 32 disposals and four marks while Archie Smith had a fantastic AFL debut, collecting 19 disposals and having 30 hitouts. 

Port will keep its finals hopes alive if it can get over Sydney at the SCG next Saturday, while Brisbane will go into next Saturday night's match against the Crows at the Adelaide Oval staring down the barrel of yet another thrashing. 

GOALS
Brisbane: Walker, Zorko, Close 2; Hipwood, Green, Dawson, Robertson, Rockliff
Port Adelaide: Wingard 5; Butcher 4; Boak 3; Westhoff, Impey, Amon, Ah Chee, Trengove, Ebert 2; Young

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Brisbane: Smith, Zorko, Rich, Walker
Port Adelaide: Wines, Boak, R Gray, Trengove, Polec, Butcher

BEST - BRISBANETIMES.COM.AU
Brisbane: Smith, Zorko, Rich
Port Adelaide: Wines, Gray, Trengove, Polec, Butcher, Boak

INJURIES
Brisbane: Smith (shoulder)
Port Adelaide: Hartlett (calf, replaced in selected side by Toumpas)

UMPIRES: Stephens, Hay, McInerney

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