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THE BRISBANE Lions have pulled off a remarkable final-quarter heist to beat Port Adelaide by 11 points in greasy conditions at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.
The Power appeared set for their first win under interim coach Garry Hocking when they led by 13 points at the last change after a dominant six-goals-to-two third term.
But the Lions kept the home team goalless in the final quarter, coming from behind to win 16.8 (104) to 14.9 (93).
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In an entertaining and intense contest, both teams opened up with five goals in the first term and went toe-to-toe for the rest of the game, before the Lions secured their ninth win of the year.
Lions skipper Jonathan Brown was a dominant force throughout the contest, booting four goals and he was supported by rising talents Josh Green and Dayne Zorko, who capped their influential games with three goals each.
Fellow Lion cub Claye Beams snared two and emerging James Polkinghore was prominent as the visitors posted consecutive wins for the second time this season.
The Power, with onballers Brad Ebert and Matthew Broadbent (three goals) dominant, created a three-goal break late in the third term.
But the Lions slipped within 12 points with Zorko's second major on the three-quarter time siren, and then unleashed a final-term flurry of four unanswered goals.
The crowd of 13,953 was Port's second lowest on record, just eclipsing last week's all-time low of 13,683.
But after the slow start, Port's diehard fans were rewarded when their team kicked five goals in an unheralded six-minute scoring spree.
And the Power appeared on track for their sixth win of the season after taking control in the third term, but the home side went goalless as the Lions overran them in the final term.
Lions coach Michael Voss said he was proud of his team's determined victory.
"We just kept grinding and grinding and grinding and to establish winning habits you've just got to be able to find a way," he said.
"We could have walked away in the last quarter and had an honourable effort, but they're getting the sniff of victory and they're sort of going to the line when perhaps the opposition across the whole day played better than us.
"It's so important to be able to have team character - we've spent a hell of a lot of time building the habits, the culture we want at this football club.
"When it really comes down to it, culture is about how you approach these sorts of games and when it's against you, how do you find a way and we did that today."
Power coach Garry Hocking was adamant there were positives to be found despite the 11-point loss.
Hocking labeled ruckman Matthew Lobbe "heroic" for his 29 hit-outs and goal and heaped praise on 18-year-old Chad Wingard, 19-year-old Aaron Young and 22-year-old Brad Ebert.
"Lobbe was heroic in the ruck for three quarters against (Ben) Hudson, who is a really quality ruckman," he said.
"Wingard (had) an opportunity not just to play forward but around the football … he showed some real class and some real poise.
"Brad's form, 31 (disposals) and his hardball gets and that sort of stuff, his ability to keep racking up possession and pump you inside 50.
"Aaron Young again today showed at times he's going to be a player of the future, so there's a few positives, no doubt."
PORT ADELAIDE 5.2 8.3 14.8 14.9 (93)
BRISBANE LIONS 5.3 10.6 12.7 16.8 (104)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Broadbent (3), Westhoff (2), Schulz (2), Boak, Brett Ebert, Lobbe, Paul Stewart, Thomas, Young, Wingard
Brisbane Lions: Brown (4), Green (3), Zorko (3), Beams (2), Bewick, Lisle, Redden, Raines
BEST
Port Adelaide: Brad Ebert, Travis Boak, Matthew Broadbent, Justin Westhoff, Chad Wingard, Jay Schulz?
Brisbane Lions: Jack Redden, Dayne Zorko, Simon Black, Daniel Rich, Jonathan Brown, Andrew Raines
INJURIES?
Port Adelaide: Nil
Brisbane Lions: Nil
SUBSTITUTIONS:
Port Adelaide: Danyle Pearce replaced Nathan Blee at half-time.
Brisbane Lions: Josh Drummond replaced Jordan Lisle at three-quarter time.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Fila, Armstrong??
Official crowd: 13,953 at AAMI Stadium
Niall Seewang is a sub-editor at AFL Media. Follow him @AFL_NSeewang
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
