Brisbane has leapfrogged the GIANTS to move inside the top four after an impressive win at GIANTS Stadium.
The Lions got the jump on the GIANTS kicking four goals to one in the opening quarter and never trailed on their way to an 14.10 (94) to 11.8 (74) win.
Brisbane were more polished and more organised than the GIANTS, and after booting the first two goals of the game early, they were never headed in the 14.10 (94) to 11.8 (74) victory.
To make matters worse for the GIANTS, star onballers Josh Kelly (calf) and Stephen Coniglio (knee) both picked up injuries in the loss.
Coniglio had 21 possessions, 12 contested, seven clearances, six tackles and three inside 50s in the first half but pulled up sharply on the half-time siren and limped to the rooms.
The star midfielder returned for the third quarter with his left knee heavily strapped and played out the match bravely, but Kelly finished the game iced up on the bench after coming off midway through the final term.
The prolific Lachie Neale (31 possessions and seven clearances) set the tone for Brisbane from the opening bounce, while clever forward Lincoln McCarthy (three goals), impassable key defender Harris Andrews and youngster Hugh McCluggage also starred for the visitors.
Coniglio finished with a game-high 34 touches, 11 tackles and nine clearances for the losers, while Zac Williams tried to provide some drive from defence with 28 disposals and eight inside 50s.
Harry Himmelberg (four goals) and Toby Greene (three) were the only forwards to stand up for the GIANTS.
Sam Reid did an outstanding job in keeping Dayne Zorko to just two possessions in the opening term, but the GIANTS badly missed his leg speed in defence, where Charlie Cameron caused Heath Shaw all sorts of trouble and kicked two goals.
It forced GIANTS coach Leon Cameron to move Reid onto the dangerous Lions forward at the first change, but Shaw's horrors continued in the second term, when a poor kick-in led to a Cam Rayner goal from deep in the pocket to give Brisbane a 21-point advantage.
With his tag released, Zorko then had a big influence on the game (26 possessions) and helped give the Lions the advantage through the midfield, where they were beaten in most statistical categories, but far more efficient than the GIANTS, especially going forward.
Neither team could nail more than two goals in a row for the entire match, but that didn't worry the Lions, who answered every challenge the GIANTS threw at them in the second half.
Coleman Medal leader Jeremy Cameron (2.4) had a quiet match for the home side and Jeremy Finlayson was well beaten by Andrews, with veteran Luke Hodge leading the Lions defence brilliantly.
The loss was the GIANTS' third from their past four matches and with games against Richmond (away), Collingwood (home), Port Adelaide (away) and Sydney (home) to come over the next month, it's going to be a tough period for Leon Cameron's men to turn the season around.
MEDICAL ROOM
GIANTS: Coniglio limped from the ground at half-time after injuring his left knee on the siren but emerged after the break with it heavily strapped, and he played out the match. Josh Kelly came off in the final term with a left calf issue and didn't return.
Brisbane: Eric Hipwood seemed to hurt his left leg early in the opening quarter when he was tackled while attempting to kick, but he managed to play out the game. Veteran Luke Hodge copped a couple of heavy knocks to the ribs and hip, but also played on.
NEXT UP
The GIANTS face Richmond at the MCG on Sunday afternoon in a massive clash, while the Lions are also on the road against Port Adelaide in the twilight fixture later that day.
GIANTS 1.2 5.5 8.6 11.8 (74)
BRISBANE 4.4 8.7 12.10 14.10 (94)
GOALS
GIANTS: Himmelberg 4, Greene 3, J.Cameron 2, Finlayson, Williams
Brisbane: McCarthy 3, C.Cameron 2, Berry, Rayner, Lyons, Bailey, Neale, Christensen, Hipwood, McCluggage, McStay
BEST
GIANTS: TBC
Brisbane: TBC
INJURIES
GIANTS: Kelly (calf)
Brisbane: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Chamberlain, Wallace
Official crowd: 12,268 at GIANTS Stadium
