The Brisbane Lions are into their third preliminary final in four years, with a thumping 48-point win over Port Adelaide at the Gabba in their qualifying final.
Chris Fagan’s men kept their composure in front of goal, taking more of their chances and proving too strong for a Power side that broke even in most statistical areas.
Playing AFL game 200, Brisbane forward Charlie Cameron made his mark kicking two goals, while Joe Daniher booted five, Jaspa Fletcher and Cam Rayner kicked three each as the Lions ran out winners by 19.9 (123) to 11.9 (75).
For the Power, young forward Ollie Lord kicked four goals in his debut final, but his teammates could not provide enough help to keep them in touch.
The Lions now get a week off and go straight to a home prelim final in a fortnight’s time, while Port Adelaide must bounce back next week in a cut-throat semifinal against GWS.
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Brisbane vs Port Adelaide
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By Dean Bilton
FULL-TIME: The Lions are through to a prelim, winners by 48 points
By Dean Bilton
1′: Cameron misses. Anti-climax
Not that it matters a whole lot …
By Dean Bilton
1′: One last chance for Charlie Cameron!
Lachie Neale lays it on a plate for Cameron to mark, and he will kick after the siren for the chance to claim the spotlight on his 200th game.
By Dean Bilton
1′: Into the final throngs now
Port trying to force one last attack as Brisbane chip the ball around a bit.
Both teams now looking ahead to their next challenges.
By Dean Bilton
3′: Lions are lining up now, Berry will take the next shot
Another tough one, about 50 metres out on an angle. Would take his absolute best from here.
It’s pushed across the face and punched through for a rushed behind.
By Dean Bilton
4′: Nothing is too tough for Joe Daniher! Brilliant goal!
It’s five for Joe, and it’s another cherry on top of the Lions’ cake. Such a beautiful drop punt from a tough angle.
By Dean Bilton
4′: Daniher is too strong for Bergman
A solid one-on-one mark in the pocket for Joe, who is kicking now for a fifth.
Tight in the pocket, tough angle for a left-footer.
By Dean Bilton
By Dean Bilton
7′: Sam Powell-Pepper kicks another
Really powerful run and crumb, and then the snap back over his shoulder was excellent.
He’s certainly carried his weight tonight.
By Dean Bilton
7′: Sam Powell-Pepper kicks the goal
His first of the evening cuts the lead to 46 points.
By Dean Bilton
8′: Powell-Pepper marks inside 50 now
The Lions are easing their way into self-preservation mode, so there is some space opening up for Port at last.
Powell-Pepper will take this shot from 35 out, directly in front.
By Dean Bilton
11′: Horne-Francis’s kick misses the lot
Inaccuracy looked like it would be the difference in the early stages of this game. In the end, the Lions have played Port off the park in this second half anyway — but the goalkicking has still been poor from Port.
By Dean Bilton
12′: Horne-Francis can have a shot on goal
Port Adelaide with a rare attack in this last quarter. Horne-Francis will kick from about 45 metres out.
By Dean Bilton
13′: Jarryd Lyons has a goal! He’s been on the ground for 30 seconds!
Literally subbed on the field after that Fletcher goal, Jarryd Lyons has kicked one straight from the centre bounce.
Port have been slaughtered at scores from stoppages today. It’s a bloodbath at the Gabba now.
By Dean Bilton
14′: Jaspa Fletcher is here to clean things up!
It’s a third goal for Jaspa Fletcher, the breakout star of this qualifying final. There is something very special about this young man, he is doing it at both ends.
How hard must he have run to end up on that kick in the goalsquare? Brilliant effort late in the game, and that will be curtains for Port.
By Dean Bilton
14′: This quarter is a mess
Little niggly free kicks all over the place. Port players frustrated, Lions happy to wind them up.
By Dean Bilton
15′: Rayner misses to the near side
It’s a 40-point margin. If a miracle is to happen, it’s going to have to start happening very soon.
By Dean Bilton
16′: Rayner takes the mark in the pocket
And it would be fitting if he could kick the goal here that would kill off Port Adelaide once and for all. He has been brilliant.
By Dean Bilton
17′: Bailey snaps and misses
Would only take one Lions goal here to get the party started. The wait goes on a little longer.
By Dean Bilton
18′: Whistles everywhere
Reckon there have been eight free kicks in the first two minutes of this quarter. Game hasn’t really got going as a result.
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