ON THE same afternoon Brisbane announced itself back in premiership contention with a 79-point thumping, Port Adelaide's 2024 campaign struggled.
The Lions were damaging at Adelaide Oval, kicking 12 consecutive goals across the second and third quarters to bankroll a 23.14 (152) to 10.13 (73) triumph.
It was Brisbane's third consecutive victory following the mid-season bye and moves it momentarily inside the top eight with a record of seven wins, six losses and a draw.
Led by ruckman Oscar McInerney (three goals from 18 disposals that included eight clearances), the Lions' midfield destroyed their vaunted Port counterparts.
Brisbane had winners all over the ground in a performance that often looked more like a training run than two quality teams battling it out.
Lachie Neale (37 and 10 clearances) and Josh Dunkley (32) also had field days, helping the Lions win the stoppage battle (42-27) and providing their forwards with a whopping 71 inside 50s to 46.
And the front seven did not miss out.
Eric Hipwood continued his mid-season surge, booting five goals and looking supremely confident in the air (10 marks) and with his set-shot goalkicking.
Joe Daniher added three, with Logan Morris, Cal Ah Chee, Charlie Cameron, Bruce Reville and Hugh McCluggage kicking two apiece.
Port was lacking confidence in its third straight loss.
Even when it was streaming through the middle of the ground, there were a number of forced and unforced errors that went back the other way.
Kicking the first two goals of the day was a highlight for the hosts, as Brisbane got its uncontested marking game going early.
Port got within a goal early in the second quarter, but that's when the Lions flexed their muscles.
Hipwood bombed his second goal from 55m, Cam Rayner took a strong contested mark and finished neatly for another, while impressive youngster Morris and ruckman McInerney added two each before the main break.
Morris continues to be a revelation for Brisbane, summing up his first goal superbly, with a clean gather at top pace before steadying and drilling his shot on the run from 40m.
A 45-point lead at half-time was as good as game over.
Zak Butters was his team's best player, finishing with 35 disposals and battling through a shoulder injury that saw him leave the field during the third quarter before returning to play the game out.
Debutant Logan Evans can also hold his head high, as can Mitch Georgiades, who finished with three goals.
PORT ADELAIDE 3.2 5.5 6.9 10.13 (73)
BRISBANE 5.5 12.8 18.11 23.14 (152)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Georgiades 3, Lord 2, Sinn, McEntee, Marshall, Finlayson, Butters
Brisbane: Hipwood 5, McInerney 3, Daniher 3, Reville 2, McCluggage 2, Morris 2, Cameron 2, Ah Chee 2, Rayner, Bailey
BEST
Port Adelaide: Butters, Evans, Rozee, Ratugolea
Brisbane: McInerney, Neale, Dunkley, Hipwood, Rayner, Bailey
LATE CHANGES
Port Adelaide: Willie Rioli, replaced in the selected side by Quinton Narkle
Brisbane: Nil
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Sweet (head)
Brisbane: Lohmann (corked quad)
SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Quinton Narkle (replaced Brandon Zerk-Thatcher at half-time)
Brisbane: Shadeau Brain (replaced Kai Lohmann at three-quarter time)
Crowd: 32,862 at Adelaide Oval
