Brisbane have overcome a first-quarter blitz by GWS to claim a 14-point AFL win over the Giants at the Gabba.
The Lions, who trailed by as much as 30 points as the Giants kicked eight goals in the first term, took control over the next three quarters of Saturday’s game to run out 16.14 (110) to 15.6 (96) victors.
Lincoln McCarthy kicked four goals for the Lions while key forward Dan McStay booted a double on his return from an ankle injury.
Lachie Neale and eye-catching youngster Deven Robertson also notched two majors each for the hosts.
Toby Greene finished with four goals of his own for the Giants while James Peatling repeated his efforts from last week against West Coast with three majors.
Josh Kelly, with 31 disposals, six clearances and two goals, was arguably the visitors’ best while five other Giants picked up over 20 disposals.
Jesse Hogan also bagged a double for the visitors.
Jarrod Berry (33 disposals, one goal) was hugely influential in the Lions’ midfield while Neale was all class, adding a game-high 39 disposals and six tackles to his two goals.
The win comes after last weekend’s shock five-point loss to Hawthorn by the Lions and lifts Chris Fagan’s team to 9-2 for the season.
The anticipated response from that Hawks’ loss didn’t come in the early stages as the Giants piled on six goals to one in the opening 20 minutes.
When Greene kicked his third of the quarter the Giants were five goals clear before McCarthy took his own tally for the term to three for the Lions to be just two goals down at the first break.
In a first-quarter shootout, a combined 14 goals from just 27 inside 50s were kicked.
GWS were also forced to sub out Callan Ward after the midfielder suffered a concussion in a contest with Eric Hipwood where the Giant caught Hipwood’s knee to the side of his head.
Having settled after their slow start, the Lions flexed their muscle across the next two quarters and hit the front for the first time early in the third term when McStay was gifted his second goal of the day via a 50m free-kick.
Brisbane never looked back from that point, Robertson providing a highlight reel moment with his second goal of the day before Brandon Starcevich and Neale hit the scoreboard with long bombs from outside 50 to have a 21-point margin at the final turn.
The Giants’ refused to go away in the final term and when Hogan kicked his second with five minutes to play, the margin was just nine points in the Lions’ favour.
McCarthy’s fourth of the day settled the home fans’ nerves as the Giants drop to a 3-8 record.
