Brisbane Lions outright premiership favourites after Port Adelaide mauling
The Brisbane Lions have mauled Port Adelaide to take top spot on the AFL ladder and move into outright premiership favouritism.
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Queensland might be an NRL desert wasteland right now, but it’s undeniably the home of football in 2020.
The Lions sealed another massive week for AFL in the northern state after the red-hot side put undefeated Port Adelaide to the sword and emerged as the new outright premiership favourites.
The Lions buried the Power with a devastating five-goal barrage in the second quarter and ran away for a 12.13 (85) to 6.12 (48) win.
The fourth straight win means the Lions now share the top of the ladder with the Power.
The TAB moved immediately in the third quarter of the match to bump the Lions ($5) into outright favouritism for the flag ahead of GWS ($7), Collingwood ($8), Richmond ($9) and Geelong ($9).
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The bizarre season of footy was best captured in a simple tweet by sports journalist Mark Gotlieb, who poked fun at the dramatic rise of the Lions — and the painful capitulation of NRL heavyweight Brisbane Broncos.
The Lions ascent to be the best team in the AFL came at the same time the Broncos collapsed to their sixth straight loss, the club’s worst losing streak in eight years.
Brisbane might be the worst team in the #NRL but Brisbane is also probably the best team in the #AFL.
— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) July 4, 2020
You lose some, you win some 🤷â€â™‚ï¸
It was a special night for the Lions as 10,161 fans rolled into the Gabba to see their side cement their place as the team to beat in 2020.
The high-flying Lions had ten goalkickers and could easily have had more if not for some wayward shots on goal.
It was party time in the final quarter after the game was already beyond doubt as the Lions took a 43-point lead into the final term.
The celebrations were capped off by a late goal to Lachie Neale, who ended a run of nine consecutive behinds.
AFL great Brad Johnson told Fox Footy after the game that the Lions must now be considered genuine premiership threats as one of the top teams in the league.
He also believes the club is an even greater threat to win the flag in 2020 because of the coronavirus restrictions and the likelihood of the Lions playing most of their games at home.
It’s the home of football right now.
Never thought I’d say this but Victoria doesn’t deserve the @AFL Grand Final this year. Give it to the State that’s the most helpful in saving the season. They deserve it.
— Campbell brown (@Browndogg_30x) July 4, 2020
Few more joyfyl sights in footy at the moment than Brisbane swiftly moving the ball through the Gabba corridor. #AFLLionsPower
— Ben Waterworth (@bjwaterworth) July 4, 2020
Not the worst time for Queensland to become the AFL capital of Australia when the Lions are flying and the Broncos stink. #AFLLionsPower
— Ashley Browne (@hashbrowne) July 4, 2020
Originally published as Brisbane Lions outright premiership favourites after Port Adelaide mauling