Brisbane has answered every Western Bulldogs challenge to notch up a commanding win at the Gabba on Thursday night.
A six goal to two third quarter proved the difference in the Lions’ 41-point win, while the result tipped the Dogs out of the top eight after they dropped over five percentage points in one evening.
In what could be described as both a defining moment of the contest and a bizarre incident, Eric Hipwood inadvertently pushed Ryan Gardner into umpire Jacob Mollison, which opened up space for the Lions forward to mark and kick a goal to put Brisbane 26 points ahead.
Tom Liberatore lit up the Gabba on Thursday night, snapping a superb goal on his left foot from close to the boundary, sparking the Dogs early. His hot form continued as he collected an equal game-high 33 touches as well as eight clearances.
But the night up forward belonged to Charlie Cameron, who kicked four goals and was irresistible inside 50. When the ball hit the ground, it was the Lions star who proved the difference.
Nick Dal Santo questioned in commentary why Anthony Scott was the defender tasked with defending Cameron all evening.
"This change (on Cameron) needs to be made,” he said on AFL Nation.
“You've got a young man going against one of the best small forwards in the past five years."
After an errant start in front of goal from both teams, Brisbane hauled themselves back in the game after three consecutive majors in the second term as the game settled into a familiar style of play – Western Bulldogs winning clearance, but the Lions making the most of their opportunities in transition.
Coming back from a hamstring strain, captain Dayne Zorko was pictured grimacing on the bench just minutes into the game and was subbed out early on.
The injury hits kept on coming for Chris Fagan’s side as the night unfolded, after Daniel Rich was ruled out for the remainder of the game at half time after succumbing to hamstring injury, leaving Brisbane to play a man down for the second half.
Earlier in the night, David King questioned the umpiring in the second term after Brisbane received nine of the 12 free kicks in that quarter.
“I don't usually do this (but) I thought the free kicks had a big influence on the scoreboard in the second term,” he said on Fox Footy at half time.
Brisbane’s second consecutive home game will see them take on Essendon on Sunday week, while the Dogs’ run of prime-time games continues when they travel to Sydney to take on the Swans on Friday night football.
FULL SCORE
Brisbane: 1.5, 6.9, 12.11, 16.12 (108)
Western Bulldogs: 2.5, 5.7, 7.9, 9.13 (67)
GOALS
Brisbane: Cameron 4, Daniher 2, Berry 2, McCarthy 2, Bailey, Hipwood, McCluggage, Rayner, Neale, Tunstill
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 2, Johannisen, Liberatore, Treloar, West, Bedendo, Weightman
BEST
Brisbane: Cameron, Coleman, Berry, Neale, McCluggage, Daniher
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Dale, Liberatore, Naughton, Dunkley, Bontempelli
INJURIES
Brisbane: Dayne Zorko (hamstring), subbed out for Jaxon Prior, Daniel Rich (hamstring)
Western Bulldogs: n/a