The Power’s thrilling one point win – 15.14 (104) to 15.13 (103) – on the Lions’ home turf, all but ensure Port Adelaide will finish the 2003 season on top of the ladder while at the same time ensuring the Lions will now face a huge battle to even finish in the top four.
In not only the best game of the 2003 season but one of the best games of AFL football imaginable, the Power withstood everything the Lions could throw at them and won the game when Roger James scored a behind with 42 seconds remaining.
It was an almost identical finish to their last round encounter at AAMI Stadium last year when a goal from James in the dying minutes gave the Power a thrilling one goal victory.
But this victory was even more significant as it was achieved on hostile territory as the Power proved once and for all they can now win the matches that count after bombing out in the finals in the past two seasons.
However while the Power’s bid for their first AFL premiership has been given the best possible boost, the Lions’ bid to become the first club in 46 years to win a hat-trick of premierships has suffered its biggest setback yet.
The once invincible Lions have now lost five of their past seven matches and after this heart-breaking defeat could now find themselves as low as seventh by the end of this round – with just five matches remaining.
That could result in the Lions having to win all four finals on the road in September – a monumental task – if they are to win a hat-trick of premierships.
And while this was a courageous effort by a Lions side missing Nigel Lappin, Justin Leppitsch, Chris Scott, Chris Johnson and Beau McDonald through injury, it should also be remembered that the Power was missing the suspended Peter Burgoyne as well as injured stars Josh Francou, Damien Hardwick, Adam Kingsley and Michael Wilson.
And the Power lost full-back Darryl Wakelin to concussion in the second quarter, an injury that prevented him from returning to the field.
However the Power matched the Lions’ incredible will to win in a gripping finish with Port’s determination to no longer be considered the “almost” team of the AFL best summed up by tagger Josh Carr.
Opposed to Brisbane’s champion skipper Michael Voss – Carr not only had 23 touches to Voss’ 16 but was far more effective and ultimately the Power’s matchwinner.
He not only kicked four goals but won the all-important contested ball in the centre square in the last minute, which enabled the Power to get the ball to James for the winning behind.
James had levelled the scores with another behind just a minute early after Brisbane had staged a magnificent comeback to hit the front just two minutes before.
After Byron Pickett’s miraculous banana goal at the 23 minute mark, the Power was 11 points in front and looked home but the Lions’ showed that despite their injury problems, their will to win is as strong as ever.
And when Clark Keating and then the brilliant Jason Akermanis goaled within the space of a minute, the Lions had a one point lead and another sold-out Gabba crowd was in a frenzy with three minutes remaining.
But this time the Power simply refused to accept anything other than victory and with the inspirational Carr leading the way, they somehow conjured the two behinds they needed to secure probably their most important and best win since joining the competition in 1997.
BRISBANE LIONS: 3.5 7.8 9.11 15.13 (103)
PORT ADELAIDE: 3.4 7.7 10.10 15.14 (104).
GOALS: Brisbane Lions: Hart 3, Voss 2, Lynch 2, Keating 2, Akermanis 2, Brown, McRae B Scott, Power.
Port Adelaide: Carr 4, Dew 2, C Cornes 2, Cockatoo-Collins 2, James 2, Pickett 2, S Burgoyne.
BEST: Brisbane Lions: Brown, Akermanis, Pike, Hart, Power, B Scott.
Port Adelaide: Carr, Tredrea, Wanganeen, C Cornes, James, Montgomery, Pickett.
INJURIES: Brisbane Lions: Weller (hamstring).
Port Adelaide: Wakelin (concussion).
CHANGES: Brisbane Lions: Nil
Port Adelaide: Nil.
UMPIRES: McBurney, James, Dore.
CROWD: 32,043 at the Gabba.
