Round 1 – Brisbane v Port Adelaide: Lions roar past Power

 

 

 

LIONS V POWER

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022

GABBA

 

 

Port Adelaide Power suffered its first AFL Round 1 defeat since 2015 to a Brisbane Lions outfit that was 24-points down during the third quarter at a humid Gabba on Saturday night.

 

The injury-struck Power looked the goods until the latter stages of the third term when key defender Trent McKenzie went down with a knee injury.

 

That was on top of injuries to play-makers Robbie Gray and Connor Rozee and the emerging wingman-cum-halfback Xavier Duursma along with 2021 All-Australian centre-half-back Aliir Aliir.

 

In the final wash-up, Joe Daniher was effectively the difference in the game with four goals as the Lions won 11.14 (80) to 10.9 (69).

 

Port’s Dan Houston found no problem getting the ball as a midfielder and he was the Power’s only multiple goal-scorer with two which was very close to three had his would-be third not hit the base of the goal-post late in the final quarter.

 

The Lions were not without its injury woes when captain Dayne Zorko left the field in the third stanza with a lower leg complaint.

 

The early stages of the game were marred by turnovers from both teams.

 

However, with Charlie Cameron well held by Ryan Burton, and the hosts not able to establish its usual free-flowing game, Port Adelaide looked set for a mighty upset.

 

Ruckman Oscar McInerney took a superb pack mark and his resultant goal put Brisbane ahead and the hosts did not relent from that point.

 

The Power’s other better players was the evergreen Travis Boak and fellow midfielder and Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines.

 

Halfbacks Darcy Byrne-Jones and Lachie Jones had their moments and showed composure while wingman Karl Amon and energetic Zak Butters provided drive between defence and attack.

 

Port coach Ken Hinkley knew it was an opportunity lost but understood that injuries played a large part in the visitors fading in the final term.

 

He suggested if Port replicate its effort against a high-class outfit as the Lions, then there would be many more wins than losses.

 

“Maybe, I’m not saying absolute 100 per cent because Brisbane lifted and took it to another level and we couldn’t keep coming,” Hinkley said.

 

“When you come up to Brisbane, who are a really strong team, really well-coached team who can push any team up here, I’ve said to the boys, if we can play that way every week we’ll win more than we lose.”

 

The Power, with a recast defence, meet an improving Hawthorn Hawks at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

 

 

 

BRISBANE              2.2    4.6    6.10    11.14 (80)
PORT ADELAIDE     1.1    5.4    9.7     10.9 (69)

 

GOALS
Brisbane: Daniher 4, Fort 2, McCarthy 2, Bailey, Cameron, McInerney
Port Adelaide: Houston 2, Amon, Boak, Drew, Georgiades, Marshall, Motlop, Powell-Pepper, Rozee

 

BEST
Brisbane: Neale, Adams, Bailey, Daniher, McCarthy, Answerth, Berry
Port Adelaide: Houston, Amon, Boak, Burton, Butters, Wines

 

INJURIES
Brisbane: Zorko (foot)
Port Adelaide: Duursma (collarbone), McKenzie (knee)

 

SUBSTITUTES

Brisbane: Harry Sharp (replaced Dayne Zorko)
Port Adelaide: Steven Motlop (replaced Xavier Duursma)

 

Crowd: 25,100 at the Gabba

 

 

 

Read more Round 1 reports HERE

 

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