Bradshaw booted six goals as the ladder-leading Swans improved their record to 5-1 with a well-deserved victory, 16.11 (107) to 13.9 (87).
On paper, it was a contest that promised high-quality football with stars aplenty on both sides, and they delivered in spades.
Apart from Bradshaw’s dazzling performance, Adam Goodes booted three for the Swans while Lions Brendan Fevola and Jonathan Brown shared eight majors at the other end.
Swans co-captain Brett Kirk took the points against Simon Black in an absorbing battle and Ryan O’Keefe was prolific through the midfield.
And a rising star, in the form of flame-haired Lion Todd Banfield, continued to deliver on his early promise with a lively three-goal game up forward.
The stage was set in the opening moments when Jude Bolton was knocked senseless and ruckman Mark Seaby was forced off with an injured ankle.
The Lions took full advantage, kicking the first two goals through Brown, before the Swans responded with a 30-minute blitz that left their opponents reeling.
From Bradshaw’s first goal at the 14-minute mark of the first term until Banfield’s drought breaking major at the same point in the second, the Swans piled on nine unanswered goals in a flawless display.
Bradshaw booted four of those and Bolton added another two as the Lions failed to score even a single behind.
However, the visitors rallied with three late majors - including a staggering 55m goal to Brown off a single step - to cut the Swans’ lead to 26 points at half time.
The contest tightened even further in the third term as the Lions booted four of the first six goal, including two soccer-style majors from Fevola.
But these Swans are in irresistible form and they refused to concede the advantage on their home turf.
They piled on five of the last six goals of the term, including a Bradshaw torpedo from 60m after the three-quarter time siren that brought the SCG crowd to its feet.
The Lions threatened briefly with the first two goals of the final term but that was as close as they got to overhauling the home side.
The Swans travel to Skilled Stadium to face Geelong next weekend while the Lions host Fremantle at the Gabba.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
Sydney Swans 5.1, 9.5, 16.8, 16.11 (107)
Brisbane Lions 2.2, 5.3, 11.4, 13.9 (87)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Bradshaw 6, Goodes 3, Bolton 2, Smith 2, Moore, Jack, Malceski
Brisbane Lions: Fevola 4, Brown 4, Banfield 3, Leuenberger, Polkinghorne
BEST
Sydney Swans: Bradshaw, Bolton, Jack, Shaw, O'Keefe, Goodes
Brisbane Lions: Clark, Brown, Banfield, Rischitelli, Drummond, Raines
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Jude Bolton (concussion), Seaby (ankle), Hannebery (shoulder), O'Keefe (concussion), Richards (ankle)
Brisbane Lions: Maguire (concussion)
REPORTS: NIL
UMPIRES: Vozzo, McBurney, Wenn
OFFICIAL CROWD: 30,975
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
