PORT Adelaide has stormed into top-four contention, making mince meat of the Brisbane Lions by 83 points at the Gabba on Saturday night.

The Power forward line ran riot, with Charlie Dixon, Jarman Impey and Robbie Gray all kicking four goals in the 22.18 (150) to 10.7 (67) romp.

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Port's fourth win from six matches was effectively sealed in the opening 20 minutes, when they slammed home seven unanswered goals.

Coach Ken Hinkley was delighted with his team's display.

"(It was a) really strong performance again against a side in reasonable shape themselves, albeit they're a bit younger, their midfielders have been dominant and they've been in games," Hinkley said.

"To come up here on their home deck, which I'm sure they were setting themselves for, we were pretty strong I reckon.

"I thought today was pretty comprehensive in the amount of time we controlled the game."

The Lions have now lost five games straight and had little answer in easily their worst loss under new coach Chris Fagan.

They butchered the ball in the first quarter with 20 clangers – a number that grew to 35 by half-time - and Port made them pay.

"We didn't see it all week, this coming, we'd trained well," Fagan said.

"There was a positive attitude after the loss to the Bulldogs, which was a really competitive game of football ... we were thinking tonight we'd be pretty respectable, but we weren't."

Missing skipper Travis Boak with a hamstring injury made little difference, as Chad Wingard (31 disposals, seven clearances) stepped into a more prominent midfield role to be arguably the best player afield.

Brad Ebert (25 touches) shook off close attention from young Lion Jarrod Berry, while Sam Powell-Pepper (25 and two goals) and Jasper Pittard (25) were also instrumental in victory.

Port was desperate all game, starting with Aaron Young's super tackle of Sam Mayes in the opening minutes that led to a Jackson Trengove goal.

Impey kicked two early goals and Dixon - too big and strong for undersized Dan McStay – kicked two of his own as Port silenced the home crowd.

GAMEBREAKER Dixon's dominance damages Lions

The Lions' only respite in the opening quarter came when Michael Close kicked their first goal courtesy of a 50m penalty.

But the pain relief was temporary.

To the Power's credit, they did not let up, extending their lead at every change for the percentage-boosting win.

One three-minute burst in the third quarter epitomised the gap between the teams.

It started when Trengove ran with the flight of the ball to mark among three Lions and continued his path unchallenged into an open goal.

Five talking points: Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide

A minute later he added another after Nick Robertson – who was one Lion who gave his all – missed a handball target, and 60 seconds later stand-in skipper Ollie Wines took an uncontested mark from a Gray pass to continue the slaughter.

It was a bleak day for the Lions, with their midfield thoroughly outplayed despite winning the disposals (400-386) and clearances (37-34).

Port was far more slick and their pressure around the ball carrier taught the Lions a lesson.

MEDICAL ROOM
Brisbane Lions: One glimmer of light for the Lions was no injury concerns. Tom Cutler got through unscathed after returning from a hamstring problem to gather a team-high 28 disposals.

Port Adelaide: The Power also got through unscathed and will be hoping Boak can return from his hamstring problem to take on the Eagles next weekend.

NEXT UP
Following big victories against battlers Carlton and the Lions, Port will look to make it three wins in succession next Saturday afternoon when they host West Coast at Adelaide Oval. The Lions travel to Sydney to take on the winless Swans at the SCG on Sunday afternoon, trying to snap a five-game losing streak.


BRISBANE LIONS   2.2     3.4     7.5      10.7 (67)
PORT ADELAIDE     7.4   11.11  18.14  22.18 (150)

GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Hipwood 2, Robinson 2, Close, Schache, C.Beams, Taylor, Zorko, Cutler
Port Adelaide: Impey 4, R.Gray 4, Dixon 4, Trengove 3, Powell-Pepper 2, Ebert, Ryder, Wines, Amon, S.Gray 

BEST
Brisbane Lions: Taylor, Robinson, Robertson, Mayes
Port Adelaide: Wingard, Dixon, Pittard, R.Gray, Ebert, Powell-Pepper 

INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Nil
Port Adelaide: Nil 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Kamolins, Ryan, Mitchell

Official crowd: 13,638 at the Gabba