1. Powerful forward line
The inexperienced Brisbane Lions defence had no answer for the dynamic Port Adelaide forward line. They went into the match with John Butcher and Justin Westhoff as their key talls, but it was the energy and sheer weight of the number of small forwards that broke the game open. Chad Wingard kicked five goals and captain Travis Boak kicked a casual three while resting forward. Jarman Impey, Brendon Ah Chee and Karl Amon created pressure and panic throughout the game, and were rewarded with two goals each. The Power forwards ran in waves, and the Lions couldn't, or in some cases wouldn't, keep up.
2. The second-quarter shockers continue
It's been the same story all season. The Lions come out firing in the first quarter, kick the opening few goals and tackle hard. They run through the middle, take on defenders, and their young forwards lead and jump for marks. But come the second quarter, their focus drops, the pressure evaporates and opposition teams put their foot on the pedal. Port Adelaide entered the second term with a five-point lead, and went into half-time 47 points up. They kicked 7.5 to just five behinds. The Lions have conceded 10 goals to GWS, nine to Fremantle and seven to the Eagles in second quarters this year.
3. Butcher is back
John Butcher has been a much-maligned player for Port Adelaide over his six-year career at the club. After kicking six goals in his second game in 2011, the Power faithful had high hopes for their new key forward. But Butcher has been in and out of the side ever since, and supporters would be right to be wary of a forward line with him as the focal point. Port Adelaide made a statement by dropping Jay Schulz and Butcher shone with the extra responsibility and an undersized Brisbane defence. He kicked three consecutive goals in the second quarter, and led hard all night.
4. A next-generation ruck battle?
The Lions took a chance playing debutant Archie Smith as a sole ruckman, but the ex-basketballer relished the responsibility of going up against Jackson Trengove alone. The two players could have been a study in the future of ruckmen – Smith was agile, jumped extremely high and got plenty of hit-outs. By contrast, Trengove ran hard, was one of the leading clearance players on the ground, and kicked a goal.
5. No tag needed for Rich
There was much discussion last week following Essendon's decision not to tag Daniel Rich, who played his best game for the year. Port Adelaide added further to the intrigue after dropping recognised tagger Kane Mitchell for defender Nathan Krakouer. The Power didn't employ a hard tag on Rich, and while he finished with 24 disposals they were mostly ineffectual, and he was nowhere near as dangerous as he was the week before.
