Charlie Cameron put on a show in front of goal as Brisbane defeated the GIANTS by 21 points to make it three in a row and take their season ledger to 4-2.
The GIANTS' winless streak in their home away from home at Manuka Oval has extended to eight games as Cameron booted seven goals to lead his side to the 16.12 (108) 13.9 (87) win.
A hamstring injury to All-Australian defender Sam Taylor only added more pain for the GIANTS.
An element of lethargy snuck into the Lions late, opening the door for another potential surge from the GIANTS but it wasn't to be.
Among Cameron's seven goals was another rebel Goal of the Year contender, while at the other end of the ground Daniel Rich was at his aggressive, rebounding best.
Without contested beast Tom Green, who watched on from the sidelines due to suspension, experienced midfielders Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio took charge at the contest. Kelly, who had 22 disposals to half time, was causing Brisbane coach Chris Fagan enough of a headache to send Josh Dunkley his way in the second half, ultimately finishing the game with 41 touches (17 contested) and 618m gained.
Coniglio wasn't far behind for the night, with 38 disposals (14 contested), nine clearances and 10 score involvements, as one of the GIANTS' best.
Brisbane controlled the air, leading the contested marks 12 to four at half-time and ending the game plus-six in the metric. A total of 10 different Lions registered at least one contested mark for the game, led by Jack Payne with three, while the GIANTS worked to make the ground their own, but it did take some time for them to get their forward pressure game going.
That lack of forward pressure early from the GIANTS handed the Lions the chance to generate fast slingshot attack, leading to the latter's opening three goals by way of Lincoln McCarthy, Eric Hipwood and Charlie Cameron. Not even the intercepting prowess of Sam Taylor could quell the speed and efficiency with which the visitors used the ball to attack.
While Brisbane's attack was all about speed and flair, the GIANTS often looked slow and stagnant when winning the ball in the back half, giving the likes of Harris Andrews and Jack Payne time to set up and assist one-another in defence.
Meanwhile the GIANTS, despite boasting All-Australian defender Taylor, Isaac Cumming and the emerging Jack Buckley, were too often caught in precarious one-on-one situations, unable to break away to support teammates in the air.
The GIANTS rallied in moments off the back of speed from the back half and good decision making by their stars. The GIANTS broke even in the second quarter and slotted three-straight through Brent Daniels and Jesse Hogan late in the third, but any lapse of concentration was punished – and harshly – by Brisbane.
A GIANT future
GIANTS fans saw their club's future late in the opening term as 19-year-old Finn Callaghan and recent No.1 pick Aaron Cadman teamed up to create the home side's first goal. Callaghan found space on the wing and sent a pinpoint kick deep inside 50 to the strong hands of Cadman, who kicked truly and got the GIANTS up and about.
GIANTS 2.2 6.4 10.7 13.9 (87)
BRISBANE 5.3 9.5 14.5 16.12 (108)
GOALS
GIANTS: Daniels 4, O'Halloran 3, Hogan 2, Greene 2, Cadman, Himmelberg
Brisbane: Cameron 7, Gunston 2, Hipwood 2, McCarthy, Ashcroft, Rayner, Daniher, Bailey
BEST
GIANTS: Kelly, Coniglio, Peatling, Greene, Taylor
Brisbane: Cameron, McInerney, Payne, Rich, Dunkley
INJURIES
GIANTS: Sam Taylor (right hamstring), Adam Kennedy (right knee)
Brisbane: Nil
LATE CHANGES
GIANTS: Daniel Lloyd (calf) replaced in the selected side by Ryan Angwin
Brisbane: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
GIANTS: Adam Kennedy (replaced Sam Taylor in the third quarter)
Brisbane: Jarryd Lyons (replaced Darragh Joyce in the final quarter)
Crowd: TBC at Manuka Oval
