The GIANTS have moved to within half-a-win of eighth spot after a 27 point victory over Brisbane at the Gabba.
The 16.13 (109) to 12.10 (82) victory could come at a heavy cost though with star forward Jeremy Cameron under scrutiny for a first quarter incident involving Harris Andrews that saw the GIANT reported.
Cameron collected Andrews in a marking contest with his elbow making contact with the defender’s face while the Lions vice-captain was running back with the flight of the ball.
Andrews crashed to the ground concussed and had to be stretched from the field.
The 21-year-old had his jaw stitched and sat on the bench for the second half but did not return to the field.
With a difficult month ahead, including matches against Hawthorn, West Coast, Richmond and Port Adelaide, the GIANTS will be sweating on the Match Review Officer's adjudication on Cameron.
In his 124 game career, Cameron has had a number of incidents looked at with 10 charges resulting in two suspensions, including being rubbed out for four weeks after breaking Lion Rhys Mathieson's jaw in the 2016 pre-season.
Speaking to Fox Footy after the match, Cameron said it wasn’t his intent to collect the young Lion high.
"I just saw the ball coming in, I like to go the ball really hard," he said.
"It was unfortunate I hit him in the head. I definitely didn't want to hurt him. I played the ball on merits."
Cameron put the incident behind him to kick three goals and temporarily move alongside Ben Brown to lead the Coleman Medal race.
The Lions were again valiant in defeat, but the GIANTS held them at arms' length for most of the night, making it three straight wins.
GIANTS coach Leon Cameron said he was pleased with the win but there was plenty to work on.
"To come away with a 27-point or 30-point win is really pleasing, but it was disappointing that (in) the last three or four minutes they kicked the last two or three (goals)," he said.
"There was some good things, there was some bad things. We clearly let them go from one end of the ground to the other and our pressure wasn’t to the level it needed to be.
"Particularly after the last two weeks, the Gold Coast and the Adelaide game, I thought it was really good, but we need to obviously do a fair bit of work on that during the week."
With Stephen Coniglio (26 disposals) back in the line-up, their all-star midfield was back to its best, led by the strong-running Josh Kelly (30 disposals and two goals), Lachie Whitfield (26) and Dylan Shiel (26).
The defence also stood up well, thwarting many Lions forays, with Sam Taylor doing a fine job in keeping Eric Hipwood to three goals.
Without their All Australian contender Andrews, the Lions can hold their heads high.
Coach Chris Fagan said he was proud of his team after also having to play without Darcy Gardiner (ankle) for about a quarter before he returned.
"I liked the character of our players to hang in there," he said.
"The effort was there again tonight. I thought our ball movement at times was fantastic."
After watching the GIANTS stream to a 36-point lead early in the third quarter, the home team scrapped and clawed to within 15 points early in the last after a clever Allen Christensen finish.
Daniel Rich (30 disposals) and Luke Hodge (30) – playing his best game for his new club – were magnificent in defeat.
Hodge wound back the clock, not only marshalling the undermanned backline, but managing to climb high for a super second quarter grab and kick his first goal for his new club.
MEDICAL ROOM
Brisbane Lions: Andrews was sick and sorry post-match and coach Chris Fagan said he would be assessed through the week. "I don't think he remembers too much about what happened," Fagan said. Darcy Gardiner hobbled off in the opening quarter with an ankle problem but returned with a hobble and eventually ran the game out strongly.
GIANTS: No problems for the GIANTS, with Stephen Coniglio (26 touches) very strong on his return from concussion.
NEXT UP
The GIANTS start a tough month of footy that could define their season with a home match against Hawthorn next Saturday night, while the Lions make the longest trip in the game to play Fremantle in Perth on Sunday afternoon.
Lions 3.2 4.4 7.6 12.10 (82)
GIANTS 5.2 8.4 10.9 16.13 (109)
GOALS
Lions: Hipwood 3, Christensen 2, Zorko, Cutler, McInerney, Berry, D.Beams, Bailey, Hodge
GIANTS: Cameron 3, Patton 3, Kelly 2, Griffen 2, Finlayson, Taranto, Hopper, Reid, Langdon, Himmelberg
BEST
Lions: Rich, Hodge, D.Beams, Taylor, McCluggage, Walker
GIANTS: Kelly, Whitfield, Shiel, Coniglio, Haynes, de Boer
INJURIES
Lions: Andrews (concussion), Gardiner (ankle)
GIANTS: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Fisher, Harris, Pannell
Official crowd: 11,267 at the Gabba
