Dom Cassisi won the toss and elected to kick to the northern end of AAMI Stadium.

First Quarter

In greasy conditions, Port Adelaide came out of the blocks well having won the opening hit out through Matthew Lobbe and worked the ball forward inside it 50-metre line. Brisbane rebounded through a downfield free and proceeded to kick the opening goal through Josh Green before Rohan Bewick put the Lions two in front.

Matt Thomas started the game well with a number of pressure acts across the ground culminating in him winning possession some forty five metres from goal from where he kicked true.

Trailing by a goal, the Power won the subsequent clearance to set Jay Schulz up with his first shot on goal, his major setting the scene for a patch of quality football with Matthew Broadbent claiming the Power’s third from his trademark around-the-body snap at goal. Second Quarter

The rain began to fall in the second term and amidst the haze came Justin Westhoff kicking straight after a thirty-metre run to put the Power back in front.

But the Lions were able to respond from several distance penalties to reclaim the lead by eight points midway through the term.

The Power however were able to fight for their goals and kicked back through Brett Ebert and soon after Matthew Broadbent from a clever midfield set up.

With the rain continuing to grease the field, the ball became increasingly difficult to handle.

The Power made sure that it kept its pressure up in both defence and attack with the Lions only able to break through on one more occasion to push their lead out to 15 points by half time.

Scoreboard

Port Adelaide 8.3 (51)
Brisbane Lions 10.6 (66)

Goals: Broadbent 2, Brett Ebert, Westhoff, Boak, P. Stewart, Schulz, Thomas

Stats
Disposals: Brad Ebert 18, Cornes 17, Cassisi 13
Marks: Cornes 4, Carlile, Broadbent, Thomas 3
Tackles: Westhoff 4, Boak 4
Hitouts: Lobbe 19, Trengove 3
Dream Team: Ebert 57, Boak 53, Cornes 52

Third quarter

Matthew Broadbent kicked the Power’s first goal after receiving a free kick when rival Daniel Merrett pushed his head into the ground behind play.

The Power played a much more patient brand of football when working forward from the middle.

Weighted kicks and chipping over Brisbane’s lines allowed the midfield to supply regular opportunities to Port’s forward line.

It was a tactic that reaped rewards with the Power eventually breaking through Brisbane’s congested defence to kick into the lead through an excellent Chad Wingard snap.

It was just reward for young Wingard who had netted the sixth most disposals of the game (18) to that point in a break out game for the 2011 number six draft pick.

His effort was symbolic of Port’s drive in the third term - a particular patch of strong offensive pressure leading to Matt Lobbe kicking his first from a stoppage in the Power’s goal square.

Port Adelaide again pressed forward with the centre clearance with Justin Westhoff collecting the loose ball to attack forward and kick Port 17 points in front.

Jonathan Brown kicked his third to close the margin back to eleven points.

But it was another youngster who found the response for the Power when Aaron Young recovered the ball at ground level to slide his first goal through and put his team up by 19 points.

It is the game Aaron Young was searching for, after being utilised as the substitute often this year, he grabbed his chance in the dewy condition to accrue eleven touches in the first three terms

Dayne Zorko again responded for the Lions, but it’s the Power leading after a strong, spirited premiership quarter by 13 points.



Scoreboard

Port Adelaide 14. 8 (92)
Brisbane Lions 12.7 (79)

Goals: Broadbent 3, Westhoff, Schulz 2, Young, Lobbe, Wingard, Brett Ebert, Boak, P. Stewart, Thomas

Stats
Disposals: Brad Ebert 25, Cornes 22, Wingard 21
Marks: Carlile, Schulz 6, Cornes 5
Tackles: Westhoff 8, Boak 7, Lobbe 3
Hitouts: Lobbe 23, Westhoff 8, Trengove 5
Dream Team: Boak 87, Brad Ebert 86, Cornes 73, Schulz 71

Fourth quarter