BRISBANE has roared to its first win of the season, crushing Hawthorn by 56 points and giving Luke Hodge the perfect outing against his former club.
After Hawthorn jumped to an early 18-point lead, Chris Fagan's men first inched their way back and then steamrolled the Hawks with an exhilarating final three terms.
Brisbane trailed by five points at quarter-time but then kicked 16 goals to six to win 20.9 (129) to 11.7 (73).
HIGH FLYER LIFTS GABBA Five talking points
It was the Lions’ first win over Hawthorn since 2009.
Hodge was excellent against the team he played 305 games and won four premierships with, but it was a mix of old and new that helped the Lions get off the mark in 2018.
Second-year midfielder Hugh McCluggage finished with a career-high 27 disposals (16 contested) and had a major influence while the match was up for grabs.
After being off with his radar last week, young forward Eric Hipwood was unstoppable, kicking 4.3 and winning four free kicks, so hard was he to match up on.
Captain Dayne Beams was back near his best with 28 disposals and two goals, Dayne Zorko continued his form resurgence with 30 touches, 11 tackles and a goal, while Charlie Cameron produced a Mark of the Year contender to go with two goals.
WATCH: Charlie Cameron's huge hanger
Coach Chris Fagan said after eight straight losses it was the result his team needed.
"It's great for our group, it gives them some positive reinforcement for what they've been doing all year," he said.
"Tonight we got that bit of nourishment from winning a game of football.
"It'll give them a little bit of confidence.
"Our pressure was really good and it all changed after quarter-time and it was on the back of that really."
LIONS STUN HAWKS Full match coverage and stats
WATCH: James Sicily's massive goal
Hawthorn kicked four goals to one before many of the 20,628 fans had taken their seats at the Gabba, but could not capitalise on its first-quarter dominance.
The Hawks had 29 inside 50s to the Lions' 16 at the half, yet trailed by 11 points.
"We did start well and perhaps we didn’t capitalise on some of the opportunities we had early in the game," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.
"I think we had five inside 50m marks for the game, which is probably a fair indication that we haven’t gone inside 50m in the manner that we usually like.
"We couldn’t change the momentum of the game.”
SHOWREEL Hodge prevails over his old mates
Brisbane was dynamic when it transitioned the ball, with linking handpasses, overlap run and accurate kicking to an open forward line the hallmark.
The defining play came midway through the third quarter when McCluggage burst from half-back, handballed to Dan McStay who pulled a clever kick across his body into the path of Jarrod Berry who spotted Cameron all alone in the goalsquare.
The lead was then 24 points and Brisbane did not look back.
Everything was going their way as the match wore on, with 'The Recruit' Matt Eagles kicking his first career goal in the final term with a checkside from 35m bringing the loudest cheer of the day.
WATCH: Gabba goes nuts for Eagles
Hodge warmed into the game and finished among Brisbane's better players with 19 touches and seven marks, and a big impact in the match-defining third term.
The loss is a big one for the Hawks, who drop out of the top eight on percentage.
Tom Mitchell had a mountain of ball, finishing with 46 disposals, but after his 16-touch first quarter, didn't have the same influence for the remainder of the game.
MEDICAL ROOM
Brisbane Lions: Another clean sheet for the Lions with no niggles in the win.
Hawthorn: The major concern for the Hawks was young midfielder James Cousins, who was taken off in the third quarter with a head injury. Cousins collided with the shoulder of Matt Eagles while trying to tackle the Lions big man and did not return to the field.
NEXT UP
Brisbane faces a difficult task in gunning for back-to-back wins, hosting Sydney at the Gabba next Saturday afternoon. Hawthorn has lost two on the trot and takes on ladder leaders West Coast – fresh off its win over reigning premier Richmond – at Etihad Stadium next Sunday afternoon.
BRISBANE 4.1 9.1 13.6 20.9 (129)
HAWTHORN 5.0 7.2 9.3 11.7 (73)
GOALS
Brisbane: Hipwood 4, Cutler 3, Beams 2, Cameron 2, Rayner 2, Robinson, Zorko, McInerney, Rich, Christensen, Eagles, Taylor
Hawthorn: Gunston 4, Roughead 2, Smith 2, Mitchell, Sicily, Worpel
BEST
Brisbane: McCluggage, Hipwood, Beams, Cameron, Andrews, Zorko, Cutler
Hawthorn: Gunston, Mitchell, Impey, Shiels, McEvoy
INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Hawthorn: Cousins (head)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Deboy, Glouftsis
Official crowd: 20,628 at the Gabba
