Lachie Neale is a star but it’s sidekick Dayne Zorko who epitomises the quality of Brisbane’s midfield, which is set for a high-speed clash with Port

Brisbane don’t stack up to the Power quantity-wise but Chris Fagan’s up-and-coming side is all quality. And while the focus is on Neale, Port Adelaide can’t forget about another star Lion.

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The run-and-gun game-style of Port Adelaide and Brisbane should make for an exciting clash on Sunday but the difference between the two sides — particularly in the midfield — might down to quality over quantity.

On average, Port Adelaide win 31.9 more disposals than its opposition, ranking second in the competition, and 8.3 more contested possessions, the third-best differential in the game.

Ken Hinkley’s side is a high-volume one, which, as a result of dominating possession more-often-than-not, boasts a league-leading inside-50 differential of +11.4.

But, as the Power have showed, playing the game in your forward-half more than any other team doesn’t guarantee a winning score.

Midfield stars Lachie Neale, left, and Ollie Wines will are set to go head-to-head again on Sunday.

Port scores from 39 per cent of its inside-50 entries, the third-lowest percentage in the competition.

On the other hand, Brisbane don’t stack up to the Power quantity-wise, ranking 10th for disposal-differential (-3.6) and ninth for contested-possession differential (+2.1) in the game.

While, on average, it wins more inside 50s per game than its opposition, its differential of +2.9 — the AFL’s sixth-best — doesn’t compare to Port’s.

But it’s quality of quantity for Chris Fagan’s up-and-coming side.

Brisbane scores from 46.2 per cent of its forward-50 entries — the third-best in the competition and seven per cent more than the Power.

Port v Brisbane - Tale of the tape

	Port Adelaide	Comp rank	Brisbane	Comp rank
Disposal diff.	+31.9	2	-3.6	10
Contested poss. diff.	+8.3	3	+2.1	9
Scores from stoppages	33.2	5	38.1	2
Scores from intercepts	46.9	11	51.1	3
Inside 50 diff	+11.4	1	+2.9	6
Score per inside 50	39%	16	46.2%	3
Points for	82.8	8	90.7	3

While it’s mostly about how the Power’s midfield deliver the ball, it’s also about the forwards taking their opportunities.

Going by Champion Data’s expected score statistic, based on the quality of shots generated during a match, Port Adelaide is the worst side at taking its chances inside-50 this season, losing 11.2 points per match.

At the other end of the expect score chart, Brisbane’s 90.7 points per game is only 2.1 less than expected — ranked fifth.

Small-forward Charlie Cameron (29 goals) sits ninth on the Coleman Medal leaderboard after 16 rounds, while athletic tall Eric Hipwood, who has been ruled out with injury this week, ranks 13th with 26 goals for the year.

First-year sensation Connor Rozee’s 20 goals is the most at Alberton.

Port midfielder Travis Boak in action against the Lions in Round 3 at the GABBA.

Expected Scores

	Expected score	Actual score	Diff.
West Coast	83.3	85	+1.7
Geelong	92.5	93.3	+0.8
GWS	92.6	91.8	-0.8
Carlton	75	73	-2
Brisbane	92.8	90.7	-2.1
Adelaide	82.6	78.9	-3.7
Hawthorn	80	76.1	-3.9
Sydney	82.6	78.1	-4.5
North Melbourne	89.3	84.3	-5
Richmond	90	84.2	-5.8
Gold Coast	67	61.1	-5.9
Essendon	83.5	77.5	-6
Fremantle	82.3	74.8	-7.5
Collingwood	93.3	85.7	-7.6
St Kilda	82	72.9	-9.1
Melbourne	82.7	73.5	-9.2
Western Bulldogs	90.2	80.1	-10.2
Port Adelaide	94	82.8	-11.2

But as Ken Hinkley said on Friday “The game is won and lost more often than not from the dominance of your midfield”.

“They are a really strong midfield group who run really hard, so we are going to have our work cut out.’’

And the key to this group has been its ability to not only find a target inside 50 but to find the right one.

While all of the attention has been on Lachie Neale this week — and rightly so, given, the former Docker ranks in the top-four in the AFL for disposals, contested possessions and clearances — Port Adelaide cannot allow Dayne Zorko to get too much of the footy forward-of-centre on Sunday.

Dayne Zorko celebrates a goal with teammate Jarrod Berry.

Brisbane have scored from 50 per cent of Zorko’s kicks inside-50 this season, the second-best percentage of the top-100 players for total entries by foot.

By total, Zorko ranks equal-first for goal-assists and fifth for score involvements of all midfielders.

Young teammate Jarrod Berry has also been efficient going forward, with the Lions scoring from 45.9 per cent of the 21-year-old’s forward-50 entries.

Interestingly, Port Adelaide midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper ranks eighth in the competition in this area but, while his kick-retention rate inside-50 is high, a teammate marks the ball from his forward-50 entry just four per cent of the time — the lowest of the top-100.

Quality will beat quantity again at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, if Port aren’t careful.

THE MONEY KICK - Score % from kicks inside-50

	Score rate
Jason Johannisen (WB)	61.9%
Dayne Zorko (Bris)	50%
Taylor Walker (Adel)	48.6%
Jack Gunston (Haw)	47.6%
Brodie Smith (Adel)	46%
Jarrod Berry (Bris)	45.9%
Gary Ablett (Geel)	45.7%
Sam Powell-Pepper (Port)	43.5%
Jamie Cripps (WC)	43.2%
Brad Hill (Freo)	42.9%