THE BRISBANE Lions have kicked the final five goals of the match to end a four-match losing streak and defeat Port Adelaide by 11 points at the Gabba on Sunday.
The Lions trailed by 20 points late in the third quarter and started their charge with three goals in as many minutes, then kicked two unanswered goals in the fourth term to win 15.9 (99) to 13.10 (88).
They won despite an equal career-best seven goals by Port Adelaide's Jay Schulz.
It was the Lions' first win since a 40-point victory over Adelaide in round 10 and just their second win at the Gabba in the past 13 matches.
As has so often been the case, it was the old firm of Jonathan Brown, Simon Black and Luke Power that led from the front.
Brown kicked four goals, Power three - including the go-ahead goal half way through the fourth quarter - and Black tallied 24 disposals.
Brown started the comeback deep in the third quarter when he took a chip pass from Jack Redden and wheeled around to kick a goal from 60m into an unguarded goal square.
Just 60 seconds later he added another courtesy of a free kick, and when Rohan Bewick converted from a snap, the Lions had reduced the 20-point deficit to just a solitary point at the final change.
The fourth quarter was an arm wrestle, with Luke Power's shark and goal mid-way through putting the Lions in front.
Lions coach Michael Voss said while it was not a pretty win, it was one he would happily take.
"We've played better and lost games; we didn't play as well, but won," he said.
"I'm content. You can never walk away not content from a win and you take four points away from it so that's what we get out of it."
The match moved the Lions a game clear of the wooden spoon, now being fought out between the Power and Gold Coast.
The match was a battle of 15th against 16th and the skills and intensity - or lack of - often showed it, but the see-sawing contest kept the small crowd of 17,276 engaged for all four quarters before they came to life in the last.
Aside from Schulz, who kicked four goals in the third quarter, the Power were well served by Hamish Hartlett (24 touches and 10 marks), Travis Boak (27) and captain Dom Cassisi (24).
Influential players
While the big three of Brown, Black and Power shone, they had plenty of help. Andrew Raines had one of his best matches for the club, closely following Danyle Pearce for much of the day and winning 29 disposals, seven contested, of his own. Tom Rockliff had nine crucial disposals in the tight fourth quarter and finished with 31 for the match, while Jack Redden had an incredible 13 tackles to go with his 21 touches.
Schulz stood head and shoulders above most on Sunday. The big forward dominated Matt Maguire most of the day to finish with seven goals, and despite missing two tough set shots in the final quarter, had a terrific day. Hartlett was the loose man in defence and made the Lions pay for much of the day with 24 disposals and 10 uncontested marks, while Robbie Gray showed his immense talent with 21 touches, seven clearances, six tackles and a goal.
What it means
For Michael Voss and the Lions it means four valuable premiership points and some breathing space from the wooden spoon battle. The Lions did not play their best, but after losing a number of tight fourth-quarter battles this season, they kept their composure and were rewarded. Some exciting glimpses from youngsters Ryan Harwood, Pat Karnezies and Sam Sheldon also gave the fans reason to be optimistic.
While the Power now leads the Gold Coast by percentage alone at the bottom, they were far more competitive for all four quarters than in previous weeks. They blew a handy lead late in the third quarter but it was not from lack of effort. David Rodan's play-on and missed snap deep in the last quarter was an example of their lack of composure when it counted.
The next four
Brisbane Lions: Hawthorn (Aurora Stadium); Geelong (Gabba); North Melbourne (Etihad Stadium); bye.
Port Adelaide: St Kilda (AAMI Stadium); Melbourne (TIO Stadium); bye; Adelaide (AAMI Stadium).
Dream Team highlight
Brisbane Lions: Jack Redden ($404,600) and Tom Rockliff ($375,400) had 129 and 121 respectively to lead the Lions, while Ryan Harwood, a bargain at $201,700 had 95.
Port Adelaide: Jay Schulz ($258,200) scored 127 Dream Team points for his seven goals and Robert Gray (102) and Hamish Hartlett (98) were not far behind. Meanwhile, Matthew Lobbe may only be worth $126,000 but his value might increase if he keeps playing like he did against the Lions (94 points).
You don't see this too often
We haven't seen the rule enforced much this season, but Port Adelaide's Cameron O'Shea was pinged for a deliberate rushed behind in the second quarter. O'Shea handballed through for a behind from about 10m out and Luke Power went back and kicked the checkside goal with his left foot. Power said after the match he sprinted past teammate Jack Redden to get the free kick and expected to cop plenty from his teammates for it.
The crowd
The Lions drew a small crowd of 17,276 but it was never going to be a good week to gather big numbers. Not only was it a battle of 15th v 16th on a Sunday afternoon, but three other huge matches in Brisbane in eight days would have sucked away a few numbers. The Reds rugby side drew a full house to Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, while both the Queensland league team (Wednesday night's deciding State of Origin clash) and Saturday night's Super Rugby final, are expected to draw 50,000-plus.
What the coaches said
Michael Voss (Brisbane Lions)
"I thought we had a number of players that lifted well. I thought Ash McGrath in the third, Jack (Redden) was one, Tom Rockliff was one. It's one thing to say it's a crucial moment and it's another to do something about it and I think we had a number of players who were able to identify that and change the situation and took it upon themselves to get it done."
Matthew Primus (Port Adelaide)
"AFL is pretty tough and it is hard to get four points, but to get it you have to play three and a half quarters of good football and we have not done that yet this year. They know they are capable of doing it, they just have not been able to do it yet. It is up to every individual to show pride in their club. We just have to knuckle down; there is another game around the corner."
Quarter by quarter
FIRST QUARTER
Brisbane Lions fans had their heads in hands early as Port Adelaide put on the first three goals of the match inside 10 minutes, two to forward Jay Schulz. However, the Lions hit back with goals to Sam Sheldon and old hands Jonathan Brown and Luke Power. The two teams traded goals after that, with Power captain Domenic Cassisi converting following a strong pack mark and Lions' youngster Patrick Karnezis slotting a tough shot from an angle close to the quarter-time siren.
Port Adelaide 4.2 (26) Brisbane Lions 4.1 (25)
SECOND QUARTER
Port Adelaide had the first goal inside five minutes, however, a bizarre decision by Power's Cameron O'Shea to deliberately rush a behind gifted Luke Power a shot on goal, which he converted. The goal sparked a mini-run for the Lions, who scored through Brown and Ash McGrath. The Power grabbed the lead back with goals to Schulz (his third) and Rodan and consolidated it with a long shot from Brett Ebert in the last two minutes of the half.
Port Adelaide 8.5 (53) Brisbane Lions 7.3 (45)
THIRD QUARTER
Four goals in the quarter to Schulz threatened to blow the game open, but the Lions responded late to ensure a tight last quarter. Schulz had two in two minutes and Ebert also had one inside the first two minutes of the quarter for the Power, while at the other end Karnezis, Sheldon and McGrath all kicked their second goals to keep the home side in touch. Schulz had two more before the quarter was out, but two goals within two minutes to Jonathan Brown and another to Rohan Bewick saw the Lions right back in the contest.
Port Adelaide 13.6 (84) Brisbane Lions 13.5 (83)
FOURTH QUARTER
The first goal of the quarter did not come until the 14th minute but it was worth it for Lions fans, with Luke Power swooping on a loose ball and snapping his third goal to give the home side the lead. Seven minutes later Cheynee Stiller roosted a long ball home from 55m, barely missing the outstretched hands of Troy Chaplin. The Power needed a goal but Schulz, kicking for his eighth of the match, kicked a point in the 25th minute and David Rodan, after marking near the goal square, played on and missed, ensuring the Lions held on for a close win.
Brisbane Lions 4.1 7.3 13.5 15.9 (99)
Port Adelaide 4.2 8.5 13.6 13.10 (88)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Brown 4, Power 3, McGrath 2, Sheldon 2, Karnezis 2, Bewick, Stiller
Port Adelaide: Schulz 7, Ebert 2, Cassisi, Gray, Rodan, Phillips
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Black, Power, Brown, McGrath, Adcock, Raines
Port Adelaide: Schulz, Hartlett, Cassisi, Gray, Boak
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Nil
Port Adelaide: Phillips (shoulder)
SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane Lions: Bryce Retzlaff replaced by Rohan Bewick in the third quarter
Port Adelaide: Andrew Moore replaced by Kane Cornes in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Chamberlain, Hay, Ryan
Official crowd: 17,276 at the Gabba
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
