GREATER Western Sydney has stormed into the top four with a crushing 79-point victory over a Brisbane Lions team sure to be under the microscope again this week.

The Giants squandered chances early, but a blistering 10-goal second quarter paved the way for a comfortable 22.14 (146) to 9.13 (67) victory.

The win jumped them over Geelong, West Coast and the Sydney Swans and into fourth position with six rounds remaining.

Full match coverage and stats

On a grim day for the Lions, it was a club record 12th straight loss in front of a record low Gabba crowd of 10,195.

The Giants mauled the Lions in close, winning the contested ball 200-148 and made them look three paces slower when the ball cleared the contest into open space.

Coach Leon Cameron said it was a great response after being embarrassed by Collingwood last week.

"(I was) really happy with our contested ball and our stoppages (52-39)," Cameron said.

Five talking points: Brisbane Lions v Greater Western Sydney

"I thought (Shane) Mumford bounced back and I thought our midfield really bounced back and answered the challenge."

The Giants face Port Adelaide (away), Richmond (at 'home' in Canberra) and Gold Coast (away) in a three-week stretch that Cameron says could determine their season.

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Leppitsch said he didn't think the effort was horrible against the Giants, preferring to pay credit to his opposition.

He said the Bombers match would be just like any other.

"We go to win every game, so it doesn't really change," he said.

"I know most people will put a lot of emphasis on the game. We will go down there and put in our best performance."

For the Lions, next Sunday's match against Essendon in Melbourne is a wooden spoon play-off for under-siege coach Justin Leppitsch and his men.

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Stephen Coniglio (32 touches and eight clearances), Callan Ward (31, nine clearances and three goals) and Toby Greene (29 and seven clearances) were monsters in tight for the winners, while Josh Kelly oozed class with his 26 disposals and three goals.

The forward line of Jeremy Cameron (three goals), Jonathon Patton (two) and Devon Smith (two) all dined out from a whopping 77 inside 50s.

The most disheartening thing for the home team was the ease with which the Giants' score ballooned.

In a four-minute burst late in the second quarter, GWS slammed on four goals to kill the contest off.

On multiple occasions they marked the ball within 20m of goal without a Lions player in sight, and the unselfish play was almost farcical at times.

At one stage Cameron took a mark 20m out and handpassed to an open Patton in the square for a goal.

It was an embarrassing stretch for the Lions.

The Giants led by 51 points at the half, and when the rain came in the third quarter, their class was even more evident as Ward and Kelly bombed difficult goals from long range.

Dayne Zorko (28 disposals) was again a shining light for the Lions, while captain Tom Rockliff (34 and two goals) tried hard and was good when he had the ball forward of centre.

MEDICAL ROOM
Brisbane Lions: Defender Dan McStay hobbled off in the third quarter with an ankle injury after landing awkwardly and is in some doubt for next week. Lewy Taylor was a late scratching – replaced by Ben Keays – after also suffering an ankle injury at training. Leppitsch said the small forward would need scans and may need surgery.

Greater Western Sydney: Tall forward Rory Lobb was the only casualty from the Giants' huge win, limping off in the final term with a toe injury. Coach Leon Cameron said it wasn't serious and he should be fine for next week.

NEXT UP
The Giants will look to firm up their spot in the top four with a tricky match against the improving Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval next Sunday. The Power have come into some good form in recent weeks after a competitive loss against Hawthorn followed by a victory over North Melbourne. The Lions meanwhile face a wooden spoon play-off against Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

BRISBANE LIONS                       3.1   5.5     8.8      9.13    (67)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY  3.7   13.8  20.10  22.14  (146)

GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Schache 2, Rockliff 2, Mathieson, Hanley, Zorko, Hipwood, Bewick
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 3, Kelly 3, Ward 3, Greene 2, Patton 2, Smith 2, Haynes 2, Patfull, Kennedy, Lobb, Johnson, Shiel

BEST
Brisbane Lions: Zorko, Rockliff, Hipwood, Mayes
Greater Western Sydney: Ward, Coniglio, Kelly, Shiel, Greene, Cameron

INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: McStay (ankle), Lewis Taylor (corked leg) replaced in selected side by Ben Keays,
Greater Western Sydney: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Brown, Harris, Pannell

Official crowd: 10,195 at the Gabba