Ken Hinkley still has the support of the Port Adelaide players if Saturday’s display is anything to go by after the Power sent a massive warning shot to the competition at the Adelaide Oval.
Hinkley and his men did a number on a Brisbane outfit expected to contend for this year’s premiership, running out 54-point winners off the back of an incredible final half.
Coming into the campaign, Port had put forward an unconvincing pre-season. With Hinkley in the final year of his contract and arguably lucky to have survived last season, this year’s Round 1 game was among the most important in club history.
A hot start by the home side was followed by a six-goal second term by the Lions. With it all to prove in the third term, Hinkley backed in his youngsters in the middle, a move that could hardly have paid off more.
Zak Butters and Connor Rozee were among the best on ground in that term, but even the midfield duo’s impact paled in comparison to that of Jason Horne-Francis in his first game for the club.
Horne-Francis was another with plenty of pressure on his shoulders after seeking a trade out of North Melbourne last year, but the prodigiously talented midfielder set tongues wagging on Saturday afternoon.
Jason Horne-Francis boots his first as a @PAFC player!#AFLPowerLions pic.twitter.com/V2jNDeI0HW
— AFL (@AFL) March 18, 2023
He finished with 25 disposals, 10 inside 50s and three goal assists (both game highs) and was comfortably the best afield with ball use that would have rivalled the best players of the last decade.
Melbourne great Garry Lyon described it as a new era for the Power.
“How exciting, changing of the guard,” he said on Fox Footy.
“It had to happen, there had to be a changing of the guard… it’s looking good (for Port fans).”
73 disposals, 12 clearances and two goals between Zak Butters, Jason Horne-Francis and Connor Rozee in their first outing as a midfield trio.
— Callum Twomey (@CalTwomey) March 18, 2023
The dream start for Port Adelaide and the midfield unit they wanted to piece together in last year's trade period. @AFLcomau
Horne-Francis and teammates were able to combine strongly with Charlie Dixon, who worked his way on top of Harris Andrews to boot 3.3 to be his side’s barometer up forward.
Todd Marshall (four goals) and Mitch Georgiades (1.3) were also big contributors against a classy backline.
In scenes eerily similar to that at the MCG last night, one quarter broke open the game as the Power piled on a mammoth eight goals in the third term.
In contrast, Brisbane was held to just one major in that term. The pain kept coming for Chris Fagan in the final term, with his team unable to conjure anything resembling a comeback.
Party time for the Power 🎉#AFLPowerLions pic.twitter.com/GsrRFxCemF
— AFL (@AFL) March 18, 2023
Brisbane put out a side featuring four new Lions expected to push the side deep into premiership contention. Josh Dunkley was unstoppable early but slowed down late to finish with 19 disposals and a game-high 14 contested possessions, while Connor McKenna’s match followed a similar arc.
Jack Gunston had little impact from nine touches but did boot his first two goals for his new club, while last year’s pick two, Will Ashcroft, struggled to get into the game and ended with 13 disposals.
It's Port Adelaide's first win over Brisbane in the last five attempts and will certainly be a victory that feels like more than four points for Hinkley and the club hierarchy.
Fagan’s men now face the very real proposition of starting 2023 0-2 when they face Melbourne at the MCG next week, while Port faces an equally-big blockbuster up against Collingwood.
FULL SCORE
Port Adelaide: 3.5, 5.9, 13.13, 18.18. (126)
Brisbane: 2.1, 8.3, 9.5, 11.6. (72)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Marshall 4, Dixon 3, Rioli 3, Jones 2, Georgiades, Horne-Francis, Powell-Pepper, Wines, Rozee
Brisbane: Bailey 2, Ashcroft, Daniher, Gunston, McKenna, Rich, Hipwood, McCarthy, McInerney
BEST
Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis, Dixon, Butters, Rioli, Rozee
Brisbane: Rich, Dunkley, Bailey, Neale, Rayner
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: N/A
Brisbane: N/A
CROWD: TBC at the Adelaide Oval