It was a night for the record books as the Lions showed why they are favourites to equal Collingwood’s 74-year record of four successive premierships with the 29.15 (189) to 6.12 (48) belting.
It was Brisbane’s highest score and greatest winning margin in the post-merger era while the loss was Adelaide’s biggest ever in the club’s history.
Lynch maintained his impressive career record against the Crows with a six-goal haul after a sluggish opening to the game while 2001 Brownlow Medalist Jason Akermanis added four majors, all of which came in the final quarter.
After taking a 29-point lead into half-time, the Lions blitzed the Crows with a devastating second half that comprised 21 goals to two.
The Lions didn’t escape the carnage however with key players Justin Leppitsch (back) and Jamie Charman (knee) failing to see out the game.
Brisbane managed just one goal in the opening 20 minutes of the game as key forward Lynch struggled to find some open territory in the goal-square.
The Crows snuck out to a narrow lead midway through the term before Blake Caracella and Joel MacDonald steadied the ship with consecutive goals to put the Lions back in front.
With Lynch struggling to break free up front, Lions midfielders Simon Black and skipper Michael Voss picked up the scoring slack to put the home side ahead by 23 points early in the second term.
Adelaide duo Graham Johncock and Luke Jericho combined to draw the Crows to within two goals before Lynch stamped his authority on the game.
The 301-game veteran kicked two goals on both sides of half-time to propel the Lions to a 41-point lead.
Tyson Edwards managed to snap the Lions streak at six-straight goals with a major before the Lions blew the Crows away with seven more goals – including two from teenage debutant Michael Rischitelli - to finish the period 74-points ahead.
The carnage was only the beginning for the Crows though as Akermanis opened the final quarter with three quick goals.
Adelaide failed to kick a goal in the final term while Brisbane managed 11 to send an ominous warning to any side contemplating stealing the Lions’ crown away.
Lions coach Leigh Matthews described the second half performance where the Lions slammed on 21 goals to two as ‘incredible’.
“You never expect a margin like that, you are only hoping to win,” he said after the percentage boosting victory.
“We didn’t give Adelaide the ball so the scoreboard really ticked (over).”
The debut of Michael Rischitelli, who was a late replacement for veteran Shaun Hart (migraine), left an impression on the Lions coach, who cheekily suggested it was a ‘luxury’ for the youngster to come into the side in such a powerful display.
“He (Rischitelli) has been playing extremely well in the reserves,” explained Matthews about the decision to select the draftee from Keilor ahead of other young prospects.
“His tackling efforts have been fantastic and it’s incredible a couple of his tackles got him a couple of goals.”
Adelaide coach Neil Craig was left to lament a pitiful second half performance.
“The second half effort was nowhere near the standard that’s required at this level but we put it up so we’re going to wear it,” Craig said.
“We’ll learn a lot more about ourselves in the weeks to come. The most important thing for the footy club is to recover from the result so that’s our biggest challenge at the moment.”
Brisbane: 3.6 8.11 18.12 28.15 (189)
Adelaide: 2.2 4.6 6.10 6.12 (48)
Goals: Brisbane: Lynch 6, Akermanis 4, Caracella 3, Voss 3, Lappin 3, Rischitelli 2, Notting 2, Black 2, McGrath, MacDonald, Copeland, McRae
Adelaide: Jericho 2, S Stevens, Skipworth, Edwards, Johncock
Best: Brisbane: Akermanis, Black, Power, Lynch, Voss, Lappin, Michael
Adelaide: Jericho, Edwards, Ricciuto, McLeod, Skipworth
Injuries: Brisbane: Leppitsch (back) Charman (knee)
Adelaide: None
Changes:Brisbane: Rischitelli in for Hart (migraine)
Adelaide: Ladhams in for Welsh
Reports: None
Umpires: Stevic, McLaren, Nicholls
Crowd: 33,443 at the Gabba
