The first game on Sunday for AFL Round 18 is between Port Adelaide Power and Brisbane Lions. The match is to be played at AAMI Stadium with the opening bounce set to commence at 12:40PM local time with home team Port Adelaide Power currently holding favouritism in the market. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Port Adelaide Power and Brisbane Lions.

WHERE AND WHEN: AAMI Stadium, 12:40 PM July 28, 2013

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Opening odds comparison:

Port Adelaide Power	1.40	1.45	1.43	1.45	1.40	1.42
Brisbane Lions	2.90	2.75	2.80	2.75	2.90	2.88

Preview:

The first Sunday game is between Port Adelaide and Brisbane, 12.40pm at AAMI Stadium. Another close contest, the Power are slight favourites to get one over on the Lions. Port have had a great season in 2013, winning over a lot of people with their determination and fast flowing footy. Currently sitting in 8th position on the ladder, they need to win here in the lead up to the finals. The Lions can also make the finals, however, currently sitting at 11th and accelerating home at the right end of the season. While Port should have enough to stop their momentum, Brisbane could overtake them here with a win.

Teams:

Port Adelaide Power:

1 Travis Boak
5 Matthew Broadbent
6 Angus Monfries
7 Brad Ebert
8 Hamish Hartlett
9 Robbie Gray
11 John Butcher
12 Jackson Trengove
13 Cameron O’Shea
14 Paul Stewart
16 Oliver Wines (INT)
18Kane Cornes
20 Chad Wingard
21 Matt Thomas (INT)
23 Matthew Lobbe
24 Nathan Blee (INT)
25 Domenic Cassisi (INT)
26 Andrew Moore (INT)
27 Alipate Carlile
28 Jay Schulz
29 Jasper Pittard
30Sam Colquhoun
36 Jack Hombsch (INT)
37 Kane Mitchell (INT)
39 Justin Westhoff

In: Kane Cornes, Domenic Cassisi, Matt Thomas, Nathan Blee, Jack Hombsch
Out: Thomas Jonas (Suspension), Jake Neade (Rested)

Brisbane Lions:

1 Sam Docherty
2 Ryan Harwood (INT)
3 Brent Moloney (INT)
6 Josh Green
7 Jed Adcock
8 Rohan Bewick
9 Ashley McGrath
10 Daniel Rich
14 Brent Staker
15 Dayne Zorko
16 Jonathan Brown
19 Jordan Lisle (INT)
21 Daniel Merrett
23 Matthew Leuenberger
24 Joel Patfull
26 Elliot Yeo (INT)
29 Andrew Raines
30Jack Redden
32 Sam Mayes
35 Ryan Lester (INT)
36 Matt Maguire
38 Tom Rockliff
41 Mitch Golby (INT)
42 Justin Clarke
47 Jack Crisp (INT)

In: Jonathan Brown , Brent MoloneyMitch Golby, Jack Crisp,
Out: Pearce Hanley (Hand)
Milestones: Matt Maguire – Playing 150th game

Lions must overcome horror AFL starts

All season, the Brisbane Lions have been trying to turn around their horror starts to AFL games.

Yet Lions defender Matt Maguire admitted he had no clue what Brisbane were doing wrong ahead of arguably their most important match since their 2009 finals campaign.

The Lions (12th; 7-9 record) must win Sunday’s away clash with Port Adelaide (8th; 9-7) to keep alive their finals hopes.

They have won three straight in a 4-1 run to turn around a horror 3-8 season start despite being the league’s worst first-quarter team.

Brisbane have led just three of their 16 matches at the first change.

And they have kicked the fewest opening-term goals in the competition (37) – even less than cellar dwellers Melbourne (38) and Greater Western Sydney (39).

Yet somehow the Lions will be within one game and percentage of eighth-placed Port with a weekend victory.

Lions coach Michael Voss admitted he had been hammering home the first-quarter message to players.

But asked on Thursday why the Lions started so badly, Maguire said: “I don’t know.

“I don’t think it is an effort thing. We are just behind on the scoreboard.”

Voss was more forthcoming.

“We’ve been trying to address it. It’s not something that has just come up on our radar and we’re not aware of it – we’re fully aware,” he said.

“Some of it’s concentration, some of it’s execution and just being purely ready for the contest.

“I feel like the guys are working hard enough but we need to straighten up a couple of things in that area.”

Starts might be a headache but running down sides is no problem for the Lions as indicated in stirring recent come-from-behind wins over Geelong and North Melbourne.

“We know if we are in the game at three-quarter time, we have the endurance and will to win and are able to come over the top of sides,” Maguire said.