LAST TIME: Brisbane Lions 15.9 (99) defeated Port Adelaide 13.10 (88), round 15, 2011 at the Gabba
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Having slayed Adelaide in Brisbane last weekend, the Lions will attempt to make it two South Australian victims in consecutive weeks on Saturday. Neither club can make the finals, but both would want to show something in the remaining two games to give them some form of momentum heading into critical pre-seasons.
THE FOUR POINTS
PORT ADELAIDE
1. With five wins for 2012, another victory would see the Power double its total from last year. Not that six wins in a season is a huge achievement, but as Kane Cornes said during the week, it would be a small milestone. There's no doubt several players will be battling for their careers in the final two games. Due to a long injury list, some will be getting opportunities that they usually would not have got. It's up to them to show they have what it takes to play for the Power in 2013.
2. Over and over this season skill errors have cost the Power dearly. It was no different last weekend when missed targets resulted in slapstick-style turnovers. Confidence is obviously a huge issue when trying to execute skills and, given the year the club has had, it would come as no surprise if the players' confidence were shot to bits. The Power are capable of playing good quality, fast football - we've seen it in patches. But it hasn't lasted for nearly long enough in games.
3. Despite what the scoreboard said last Sunday, the Power started reasonably well against West Coast. They were beating the Eagles to the ball and were matching them for inside 50s. They couldn't make the most of their opportunities, which obviously hurt, but they were hard at the ball. Against the Lions, who will be pumped after upsetting the Crows last Saturday night, a strong start will be crucial. If the Power can win contested possession and generate ample attacking opportunity as they did in round 21, they're certainly in with a shot.
4. Travis Boak shapes as an important player in this one. He is the best performer in this matchup, averaging more than 26 disposals in his last three games against the Lions. He missed the Power's loss to West Coast with a corked back, but interim coach Garry Hocking said he was "100 per cent" sure the out-of-contract star would be right for Saturday's clash. With his future at Alberton in serious doubt, Saturday could be the last time Boak plays at AAMI Stadium in a Power strip.
BRISBANE LIONS
1. Last week's big upset against Adelaide would be all but wasted with a poor showing against the Power. The Lions have strung successive wins together just once this season - in rounds 13 and 14 against the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne - and cannot afford to fall asleep against an opponent they are favoured to beat.
2. For so long the Lions have been (justifiably) criticised for being too Jonathan Brown-centric when they go forward. However, things have started to turn in 2012, with a far more even spread of goalkickers. In last week's win against the Crows, nine players got on the scoreboard, with Rohan Bewick (three) leading the way. Although Brown (38) still leads the season tally, Daniel Merrett (26), Tom Rockliff (18), Daniel Rich (16), Bewick (15) and Dayne Zorko (13) have been regular contributors.
3. Despite being played forward for most of the year, Merrett was back to his favoured full-back position last week and revelled. He kept a rusty Kurt Tippett to just seven touches and no goals, and in doing so, showed coach Michael Voss the blueprint for the Lions' best defensive set-up. In the corresponding match last year, Jay Schulz kicked a bag of seven, so watch for Merrett to get the job on the athletic Power forward this week.
4. It's a simple formula and one the Lions showed worked last week. Against one of the most vaunted midfields in the competition, they won the overall disposal count (367-329), contested possessions (149-129), trailed narrowly in clearances (33-34) and won the tackles (56-51). It was a consistent intensity they had not showed the previous month and one that would go a long way towards winning on Saturday.
Odds: Port Adelaide $2.15 : Brisbane Lions $1.70
