BRISBANE has underlined its premiership credentials with a 20-point win on the road against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.
Questioned after last week's collapse at the hands of Geelong, the Lions bounced back with a mature performance to stamp their place in the top four and keep the GIANTS outside the top eight.
LIONS BOUNCE BACK Full match coverage and stats
After kicking the first four goals of the game, the Lions were made to work for the rest of the game to secure the 13.10 (88) to 10.8 (68) win, scoring the first three majors of the final term to kick away from the GIANTS.
It was made even more impressive with raging Brownlow Medal favourite Lachie Neale's (20 disposals) influence subdued by GIANTS tagger Matt de Boer in the first half, opening the door for Jarrod Berry, Hugh McCluggage and Jarryd Lyons to take control.
Key back Harris Andrews blanketed GIANTS spearhead Jeremy Cameron in the first half, collecting eight intercept possessions and keeping Cameron goalless.
The reigning Coleman medallist then got separation on Andrews during the third term and kickstarted a GIANTS fightback and run of four consecutive goals.
With Geelong's seven-goal third term from last week fresh in their memories, the Lions steadied through Cameron Rayner, while some undisciplined acts from the GIANTS – including a Lachie Keeffe 50m brain fade after he threw the ball away after conceding a free kick – cost them early in the final term.
To highlight their dominance, the Lions had 22 more inside 50s and 43 more marks – including 35 in the first half.
GIANTS captain Stephen Coniglio (27 disposals) played his best game of the season, while returning best and fairest Tim Taranto (15 disposals, two goals) was one of his side's best.