PORT ADELAIDE has acknowledged its historic first AFL premiership by demolishing Brisbane in front of 36,231 at the Adelaide Oval thanks to masterclasses from captain Travis Boak and full forward Jay Schulz.
As the club wore a replica of its 2004 premiership winning guernsey - worn to victory over the Lions on that historic last day in September 10 years ago - today's generation of Power heroes created history of their own.
It was the first final margin of over 100 points kicked at the ground, with the Power running out 113-point victors.
The result keeps Port Adelaide's undefeated record at the ground intact and plays it into form ahead of the mammoth challenge of playing top-of-the-table West Coast at Patersons Stadium next Saturday.
There were few passengers on the field as the Power's engine room went into overdrive after quarter time and stormed home to keep Brisbane to just five goals after the first break.
Thanks to a dominant display around the ground from captain Travis Boak whose personal best 41 disposals were instrumental in Port dominating through the middle and a seven-goal haul from Jay Schulz, the Power rarely looked like conceding the result.
Playing as a traditional full forward running out of the goal square, Schulz wreaked havoc with the Lions defence while fellow tall tower Justin Westhoff booted three of his own in another strong performance.
But their ability to mark tall and outclass the Brisbane backline was assisted thanks to the two Grays causing the Lions headaches at ground level.
Making his AFL debut for the club, Sam Gray booted three classy goals and looked at ease playing at the highest level of the game.
From Rudall on the Eyre Peninsula in the heart of Port Adelaide's SANFL country zone, the club's 2013 SANFL best and fairest and Magaery Medal runner-up looks a ready-made replacement for either of the Power's injured livewires Angus Monfries or Chad Wingard.
His namesake Robbie Gray continued his good form as a flexible forward option for the Power.
He kicked two goals and had three goal assists.
Sam Gray wasn't alone in booting a triple haul, with Matt White and Westhoff troubling the scoreboard just as often.
Port Adelaide rarely looked the weaker side, but the signs were ominous early when the Power troubled the goal umpire to register three behinds before the Lions responded with the first two goals of the game.
The Power then hit back by kicking 10 of the remaining 12 goals for the half and cruised into a 42-point lead at the major break.
And after wavering performances in its opening three games for the year - including a third quarter lull on the same turf against Adelaide a fortnight ago - the Power hit top gearafter half time with an eight-goal-to-one demolition job.
The result was academic after three-quarter time, with the Power's intensity just as high to finish the game as it was to start.
Among the masterful efforts of Boak and Schulz and the two Grays up forward, was a strong effort from loose backman Matthew Broadbent.
Without the pressure of a direct opponent, Broadbent was clinical, efficient and ambitous with his run from defensive 50 and provided ample support to fellow runners Cam O'Shea and Jasper Pittard across half-back.
Former Richmond 'super sub' Matt White played his best game in Power colours so far, with his three goals and elusive run providing the kick Port Adelaide needed after quarter time.
The eventual 113-point win narrowly missed the Power's largest winning margin of 117 points against Hawthorn in 2005, however now sits as the second-biggest win in the club's AFL history.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 4.4 10.9 18.13 23.15 (153)
BRISBANE LIONS 3.2 4.3 5.3 7.4 (46)
Goals: Schulz 7, Westhoff, White, S. Gray 3, R. Gray 2, Wines, Polec, Boak, Impey, Young, Ebert
portadelaidefc.com.au’s best: Boak, Schulz, Broadbent, S. Gray, R. Gray, Jonas, Ebert
Injuries: nil
Reports: nil
Substitution: Aaron Young replaced Jack Hombsch at three-quarter time
Crowd: 36,231 at the Adelaide Oval
