Roaring Lions pass test of character in win over Power

BRISBANE Lions captain Jonathan Brown says "pride was on the line" at the start of the fourth quarter at Adelaide's AAMI Stadium on Saturday.

BRISBANE Lions captain Jonathan Brown says "pride was on the line" at the start of the fourth quarter at Adelaide's AAMI Stadium on Saturday.

The Lions trailed Port Adelaide by 13 points at the last change.

The Lions skipper could not be happier that his side chose to stand up and deliver an 11-point victory over the Power for their ninth win of 2012.

Brown was furious after the Lions' last-quarter capitulation against Richmond two weeks ago at the Gabba and produced a withering public spray.

But he was delighted with the hard-fought, 16.8 (104) to 14.9 (93) win over Port.

"We didn't play great but the boys survived the pressure and gutsed it out," Brown said.

"We were hoping to continue on from the great win over Adelaide last week which gave the boys tremendous confidence so there was a lot of pride on the line for the lads.

"You can't beat that winning feeling, especially when you really have to fight for it."

Despite being cleaned up in a marking contest and copping a stray elbow to the head that required strapping, Brown stood tall with four goals in tough conditions. He was well supported by the mosquito fleet of Dayne Zorko (23 disposals, three goals), Josh Green (three goals) and Claye Beams (two goals).

"Polks (James Polkinghorne) was dangerous throughout the game as well," Brown said.

"The boys were pretty lively when we went inside 50 and it's been great to get that ground support from the little blokes."

The Lions can finish the year with a hat-trick of wins when they host the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba on Sunday.

"To get double-figure wins would be a tremendous improvement on last year. It's important to finish with momentum," Brown said.

The Lions Reserves sent an ominous warning to NEAFL premiership contenders with a barnstorming 35-point win over Southport in the qualifying final at Coorparoo on Saturday.

Led by 43 possessions and two goals from veteran Amon Buchanan, the Lions kicked the last nine goals of the game to come from 27 points down late in the third quarter.

The AFL club's first AFLQ/NEAFL finals win puts them in against NT Thunder in the major semi-final in Darwin on Saturday night for a spot in the grand final. In the third week of the NEAFL finals, they will welcome back qualified players including Beams, Green and Jordan Lisle.