Brisbane’s Statement of Intent: A Warning to the Rest of the AFL

The Brisbane Lions’ 67-point thrashing of Hawthorn on Friday night sent shockwaves through the Australian Football League, leaving many in awe of their dominance. The manner in which they dismantled the Hawks was a stark reminder that Chris Fagan’s team is not to be underestimated.

Brisbane adapted their game plan to counter Hawthorn’s strong attacking prowess, employing a more defensive-minded approach that paid dividends in a crushing 18.17 (125) to 8.10 (58) victory. This performance must have been particularly galling for Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell, who admitted his team was “outclassed” on the night.

Mitchell downplayed the significance of this loss, stating they can “execute better than that and play to a higher level.” However, it’s clear that Brisbane’s victory has sent a message to the rest of the competition. The Lions’ ability to bounce back from their previous week’s disappointment against Carlton is also a testament to the resilience and character within Fagan’s team.

Logan Morris was one of the standout performers on Friday night, scoring four goals from 15 touches in a demonstration of his growing maturity as a player. His exploits took his season tally to 51, just six goals off Coleman Medal leader Charlie Curnow’s pace. Veterans Charlie Cameron and Eric Hipwood also weighed in with five goals between them, while Kai Lohmann continued to prove himself as a key contributor with five majors of his own.

The result has significant implications for the rest of the season. With Brisbane now firmly back in premiership calculations, they join Melbourne and Geelong as serious contenders for the flag. The question now is: can the Lions sustain this level of performance over the coming weeks? And what about Hawthorn – will they regroup and refocus their efforts?

One thing is certain: Chris Fagan’s team has sent a clear warning to the rest of the AFL that they are not to be underestimated. With this statement of intent, Brisbane will undoubtedly be one of the teams to watch in the coming weeks.

The fact that Brisbane have now won two out of their last three games after facing criticism for their lack of pressure against Carlton is also a testament to their resilience and character within Fagan’s team. Their ability to bounce back from disappointment like this shows they are not just a good team, but also a strong one.

The Lions’ performance on Friday night has highlighted the importance of experience in the AFL. With 250-game milestone man Ryan Lester fittingly helping himself with a goal in the final term, Brisbane’s depth and maturity were on full display.

Brisbane’s statement of intent has been made clear: they are back in the premiership mix and ready to challenge for the flag. The rest of the AFL would do well to take notice – Brisbane is not a team to be underestimated.