Brisbane defeated Essendon in a 90-point win at the Gabba on Sunday.
The Lions made light work of their struggling opponents, leading by 33 points at quarter-time and never looking back on the way to a 22.17 (149) to 8.11 (59) victory. Essendon afforded the home team far too much space, watching them chip from uncontested mark to uncontested mark.
It was their fifth straight win, and the Bombers' 12th straight defeat, moving Chris Fagan’s men past Adelaide and back into the coveted fourth spot.
The game got off to a fast start when Charlie Cameron goaled in the early stages, but then had a lull for the next ten minutes as Brisbane missed a number of scoring opportunities.
The Lions looked ruthless in the third term, kicking seven unanswered goals, with Eric Hipwood finding form and co-captain Josh Dunkley flushing one from 50m.
They looked like winning by three digits before the Bombers bounced back with some fourth-quarter fight.
The Bombers had just one goal to three-quarter time before piling on seven in the fourth term to limit the final margin.
Sam Draper was influential against his former club, kicking two goals from 15 touches, including a banana on the run from 40m after a sidestep and fend-off.
Essendon was a step off the pace for most of the game, giving the Lions far too much space with the ball and then missing targets when they were able to win it back.
Peter Wright (3.4 from 10 touches) was a dangerous target, while draftee Sullivan Robey (20) continued a fine first season.
BRISBANE 5.6 9.10 16.14 22.17 (149)
ESSENDON 0.3 1.6 1.9 8.11 (59)
GOALS
Brisbane: Lohmann 3, W.Ashcroft 3, Morris 2, L.Ashcroft 2, Hipwood 2, Cameron 2, Bailey 2, McKenna 2, Draper 2, McCluggage, Dunkley
Essendon: Wright 3, Caddy 2, Kako, McGrath, Durham
BEST
Brisbane: Neale, W.Ashcroft, Rayner, Draper, Gallop, L.Ashcroft, Zorko
Essendon: Wright, Robey, Durham
INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Essendon: Nil
Crowd: 30,505 at the Gabba
