Are Brisbane now the flag favourites?
The Lions were unquestionably impressive against the previously unbeaten Power at the Gabba on Saturday night. Whereas this on its own might not have been enough to bestow them with premiership favouritism, but combined with the form of other flag fancies supports the assertion.
There is a long way to go in the 2020 season but we think the Lions are deserving of favouritism at this stage. That said, given the crazy nature of the season to date and the changing fortunes of the competition heavyweights this might be something that will change frequently.
How the Game Was Won
While the Lions won this match in the second and third quarters the Power went a long way to losing it in the first. Dominating territory and possession they were camped in their attacking half for much of the quarter. Yet in being unable to score their first goal until time on handed the home team a massive free kick. The Lions were not to be anywhere near as accommodating when the territory and possession statistics turned around.
With goals to Eric Hipwood, Cam Rayner, Charlie Cameron, Oscar McInerney and Zac Bailey, Brisbane blew the game apart in the first 12 minutes of the second term. Zak Butters would interrupt the carnage with the Power’s second goal but it would be a brief respite.
Lachie Neale and Jarryd Lyons were among the best for the Lions as they took control of the match. Their work in the middle capitalised on by a hungry forward line. The Lions running wild up front with 10 individual goal scorers.
The Power struggled in the face of the Lions onslaught. Travis Boak and Zak Butters two of the few players to perform for the beaten team.
What the Coaches Said
Port Adelaide
Ken Hinkley pulled no punches in his post match press conference. “Let’s not miss the fact that physically we got outmuscled a bit around the footy,” he said. “They got the game rolling on their terms.
“We were beaten badly in the contest and it’s an area where we’ve been really solid and we’ve been pretty good for a fair while now but tonight we were given a good uppercut. It’s no surprise to play Brisbane at the Gabba and get on the end of a bit of a whack. We’d much rather we were much better than we were tonight but we were beaten up by the side tonight that deserved the victory clearly.”
Brisbane
Chris Fagan praised his teams effort and system in the middle stages of the match. “The second quarter was a pretty special quarter by our boys I thought,” the Lions coach said. “We just lifted our ability to hunt the footy around the contest and our pressure stepped up. We were a little bit more direct going inside 50. We got it in deeper and our tall guys caused them a few problems and our boys at ground level were pretty good as well.”
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BRISBANE 2.1 8.6 11.11 12.13 (85)
PORT ADELAIDE 1.6 2.7 4.10 6.12 (48)
GOALS
Brisbane: Rayner 2, McCarthy 2, McStay, Hipwood, Cameron, McInerney, Bailey, McCluggage, Robinson, Neale
Port Adelaide: Butters 2, Gray, Rozee, Marshall, Rockliff
BEST
Brisbane: Neale, Lyons, McCluggage, McStay, Andrews, J.Berry, Rayner
Port Adelaide: Boak, Butters, Houston, Ebert, Rockliff
INJURIES
Brisbane: Ellis-Yolmen (calf)
Port Adelaide: Nil