IT TOOK some class from Lachie Neale to blow the game open, and Brisbane didn't look back, shaking the rust from a two-week slump to defeat Gold Coast by 49 points in Saturday's QClash.
With scores level shortly after half-time, Neale split the game open with centre clearances that led directly to goals for Charlie Cameron and Jarryd Lyons.
They kicked the final five goals of the that term and scooted away in the last quarter to win 16.15 (111) to 9.8 (62) at Metricon Stadium.
The win moves Brisbane to a 4-2 record and back into the top eight.
Neale finished with 28 disposals (14 contested), six clearances and six tackles, and while others fumbled and missed targets, it was his polish that set him apart.
After hitting Cameron on the chest to help give his team the lead early in the third, Neale orchestrated the goal for Lyons from the next centre bounce with a great clearance and twinkle-toed pirouette through traffic.
He then had the presence of mind to hit Lyons in stride who didn't let his teammate down with a polished finish on the run.
Neale then kicked a goal of his own later in the quarter – following yet another centre clearance – in which he hit Stefan Martin lace out and then cruised by to get the handball receive and bang it home from 50m.
Mitch Robinson was also terrific, winning the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for a four-quarter performance that netted him 25 disposals and three goals.
Following horror losses to Essendon and Collingwood, the Lions got back to basics, winning contested footy (134-133) and dominating territory 55 inside 50s to 48).
After Gold Coast scored three goals generated from half-back in the first quarter, the Lions ramped up their pressure and were rarely troubled.
Brisbane threatened to blow some of their good work with poor first-half goalkicking, though.
The Lions led by just six points at the main break but it could have been so much more, with Jarrod Berry, Cameron and Dan McStay all missing shots adjacent to goal.
After difficult past fortnights, Lyons (28 disposals and two goals), Cam Rayner (three goals) and Cameron (21 touches and two goals) were all influential.
For Gold Coast, Brayden Fiorini (31 touches), David Swallow (24) and Ben Ainsworth (21) all battled hard, while debutant Josh Corbett kicked two goals.
Marcus Ashcroft Medal final votes
Mitch Robinson - 8 (3, 3, 2)
Lachie Neale - 6 (3, 2, 1)
Brayden Fiorini - 2 (2)
Jarryd Lyons - 1
Charlie Cameron - 1
GOLD COAST 3.1 6.2 7.3 9.8 (62)
BRISBANE 2.5 6.8 11.10 16.15 (111)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Corbett 2, Sexton 2, Wright 2, MacPherson, Lukosius, Miller
Brisbane: Robinson 3, Rayner 3, Lyons 2, Cameron 2, McCarthy 2, Hipwood, Witherden, Neale, Taylor
BEST
Gold Coast: Ainsworth, Fiorini, Miller, Swallow
Brisbane: Neale, Robinson, Cameron, Lyons, McCluggage, Rich
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Brisbane: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Power, Hay, Meredith
Official crowd: 13,694 at Metricon Stadium
