PORT ADELADE has recorded an unconvincing heart-stopping win over Brisbane to remain unbeaten in season 2018.

The Power withstood a first half onslaught from the Lions as well as a late flurry, holding on for a five-point win at Adelaide Oval.

After Jack Watts and Steven Motlop missed early shots for the home side, it was Charlie Cameron, playing at Adelaide Oval for the first time since leaving the Crows in the off season who booted the first two majors to give the visitors a surprise early lead.

It was eight minutes before the Power got some reward for its attacking dominance when Charlie Dixon marked off a long hook around the body from Jared Polec.

The big forward would play on and slot home the ball, and when Robbie Gray marked and kicked truly from 35 metres a minute later, Port Adelaide was in front.

The Power had more than double the number of shots and inside 50s, but the Lions were more accurate and efficient.

Late goals from Todd Marshall and Chad Wingard, on the siren, helped the home side steal back the lead at the first break.

Brisbane started strongly in the second term, but failed to capitalise on a few early chances.

Port, with its first inside 50 of the term after five minutes, had its first when Sam Gray found himself in space to run onto a ball over the top and into an open goal.

But the tide turned with the Lions starting to dominate the clearances and contested possessions.

Three straight goals, including Cameron’s third, had the visitors in front by 11 points, before Steven Motlop broke the momentum with his first, after marking about 40 metres out.

But the Lions weren’t done, continuing to look more desperate for the footy and kicking the next two to open up a 17 point advantage.

Sam Gray pinched a second goal in a rare foray forward for the Power to cut the margin to eleven at half time, but there were worrying signs when Power Vice-Captain Ollie Wines, leading the disposal count for the home side, limped off with an ankle injury just before the break.

The game changed in the third term as the Power piled on seven goals to two including four in a row.

Motlop’s second a particular highlight as he showed off his pace to burst out of a pack and kick home with composure from 25 metres, while Brad Ebert’s first from outside 50 after a patient build up brought the relatively quiet 36,363 crowd back into the game.

A late goal to the Lions brought them to within three goals at the final change

And the game was on a knife edge as the visitors booted three goals to one in the final term.

Eric Hipwood’s second goal of the final term had the Lions just five points down and it seemed Port Adelaide would rue a misguided Jack Watts handpass when Robbie Gray was running into an open goal, and a shot from captain Travis Boak which hit the post.

But the Power held on with dogged defence under extreme pressure for a five-point win, with Jared Polec and Dougal Howard marking deep inside 50 to continually repel the Lions’ surges.

The result keeps the Lions winless at Adelaide Oval in six attempts, and without a win in 2018, while the Power retains its unblemished record this season. 

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE              4.6        7.7        14.8        14.13 (97)             

BRISBANE                      4.0        9.6        11.8         14.8  (92)              

Goals

S Gray 3, Motlop 2, Ebert, Marshall, Boak, Dixon, Watts, Westhoff, Dixon, Gray, Wingard

Best

Polec, S Gray, Powell-Pepper, Motlop, Hartlett, Wingard

Injuries 

Crowd

36,363 at Adelaide Oval