Brisbane has put together one of its most complete performances of the season, defeating the GIANTS by 40-points at Manuka Oval on Saturday afternoon.
After injuries and COVID-19 ripped through them the previous week, the Lions cantered to a 15.9 (99) to 9.5 (59) triumph, giving coach Chris Fagan some nice selection headaches in the process.
The midfield, led by Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale and rugged inclusion Rhys Mathieson, laid the foundation, smashing the Giants 49-24 in the clearances and giving Brisbane field position all afternoon.
They generated 58 inside 50s to just 35, and despite three late goals by the GIANTS, were able to stifle their ball movement the entire match.
Hugh McCluggage was on another level, kicking an equal career-high four goals to go with an equal game-high 30 disposals, while Charlie Cameron (three goals), Cam Rayner (three), Eric Hipwood (two) and Dan McStay (two) all profited from the great work further afield.
After losing four of their previous seven matches, the visitors were in no mood for mucking around, blanketing the GIANTS' every move with suffocating pressure and well-organised defence, racing to an 18-point quarter-time lead.
They led by as much as 59 points and have solidified a top-four spot.
Mathieson (23 disposals, 10 clearances) was magnificent in his first senior game of 2022, while Neale (26) shook an early Lachie Ash tag.
Keidean Coleman was the architect from the back half of the ground, while Nakia Cockatoo also impressed in a change in roles to defence.
With captain Dayne Zorko, Daniel Rich and Jarrod Berry all due back from injury against Gold Coast next week, Fagan has some tough decisions ahead following the all-round performance.
The GIANTS could thank full-back Sam Taylor for being within reach during the first half, as he won the ball back a staggering 12 times from intercepts in the opening two quarters alone.
Taylor (15 intercepts from 20 disposals) and Harry Himmelberg (10 intercepts from 30) held back the tidal wave of inside 50s, while Toby Greene (four goals) played a lone hand at the other end.
With Brisbane still dominating general play, Greene was able to beat opponent Brandon Starcevich back to goal twice and added a third for the second term – and fourth for the half – just before the main break to bring his team within seven points.
It was as close as the GIANTS would get.
The Toby Greene Show
Considering how little ball got past the centre circle in the GIANTS' direction, what Toby Greene did was remarkable. With Brisbane's best small defender Brandon Starcevich wearing him like a glove, the mercurial GIANT somehow kept his team in the game with four first-half goals. The first came from a 50m penalty against Noah Answerth, the next two from perfect kicks that found Greene just a metre or two over-the-back of his opponent, and the fourth a brilliant second-effort mark and goal.
GIANTS 1.1 5.2 6.2 9.5 (59)
BRISBANE 4.1 6.3 11.8 15.9 (99)
GOALS
GIANTS: Greene 4, Hogan, Taranto, Kelly, Himmelberg, Lloyd
Brisbane: McCluggage 4, Cameron 3, Rayner 3, Hipwood 2, McStay 2, Coleman
BEST
GIANTS: Taylor, Himmelberg, Greene, Taranto, Coniglio
Brisbane: McCluggage, Coleman, Mathieson, McStay, Neale, Rayner
INJURIES
GIANTS: Nil
Brisbane: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
GIANTS: Callum Brown (unused)
Brisbane: Tom Fullarton (unused)
