The Lions defeated North Melbourne on Saturday night by 31 points, kicking 18.21 (129) to 15.8 (98)
Brown and Bradshaw starred for the home team, kicking 12 goals between them and putting in an impressive nomination for the game's most dangerous forward combination.
But the performance was not flawless, and for Lions supporters in particular, not without one very nervous moment.
The blemish, as it has been in the past with Brown's game, was finishing. The skipper's total for the evening included six goals and seven behinds, but as the scoreboard indicated he was not the lone culprit with the Lions squandering numerous gettable chances.
The heart palpitations occurred in the third quarter when Brown left the ground with what appeared to be a serious leg injury.
But befitting his superhero status, Brown returned some 10 minutes later to run out the game and ease the fears of the majority of the 22,118 supporters that had made their way to a damp Gabba ground.
Simon Black was also impressive for the Lions, notching up 30 characteristically classy disposals.
The Kangaroos, despite finishing the game with 16 less scoring shots than their opponents, created some nervous moments for the home team particularly in the third quarter when they scored six goals to four.
After trailing by 39 points at half time, the Kangaroos needed a quicksilver start to the term and it arrived through goals to Daniel Pratt (his first for the year) Hamish McIntosh and Drew Petrie (three goals).
Superb finishing was keeping North Melbourne in the contest and when Brent Harvey drilled his third from wide out and long-range, the Roos had clawed back to within four straight kicks.
But Brown answered in emphatic fashion. His fourth and fifth goals restored the Lions' dominance and notched 300 career goals for the champion centre half-forward.
Then came the moment that threatened to change the course of the match.
After competing for a mark, Brown dropped to ground clutching his leg. The Lions' skipper left the ground in the hands of trainers, and for North Melbourne it was as if a switch had been flicked.
Petrie bagged his third, Matt Campbell his second, and the Roos found themselves only 19 points down.
But the renaissance was brief. Brown made his way back from the rooms, and Bradshaw kicked two in a minute to blow out North Melbourne's candle and take his team to a 32-point lead at the last change.
Harvey, with three goals and 22 disposals, was good for the Kangaroos and his personal duel with Justin Sherman (15 disposals, two goals) was a match highlight.
Daniel Pratt and skipper Adam Simpson also contributed well for the Roos.
The Lions, though, had too many answers across the park. Their pace in particular was damaging, especially in the first half when the Lions set up the match with dash from half-back and a dominant midfield including Black, Luke Power (26 disposals) and Travis Johnstone (23 disposals, one goal).
The Lions' 17 point quarter time margin was quickly extended after the break with goals to Brown, Bradshaw and Johnstone.
A mini-rally saved the Roos from being blown away but the Lions steadied, taking what proved to be a match-winning 40-point lead into the main break.
The victory came at some cost to the Lions, with Jason Roe, Josh Drummond and Ashley McGrath all suffering hamstring injuries.
Brisbane Lions 4.7 11.12 15.17 18.21 (129)
North Melbourne 2.2 6.2 12.3 15.8 (98)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Bradshaw 6, Brown 6, Sherman 2, Notting, Johnstone, Charman, Corrie
North Melbourne: Harvey 3, Petrie 3, Campbell 3, McMahon, Hale, Pratt, McIntosh, Harris, Jones
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Black, Brown, Power, Notting, Bradshaw, Charman, Merrett
North Melbourne: Pratt, Simpson, Harvey, Harris, McIntosh, Urquhart
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Roe (hamstring), McGrath (hamstring) Drummond (hamstring).
North Melbourne: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Armstrong, McInerney
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
