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The Lions celebrate a goal en route to a comfortable win over the Bulldogs.Credit:AFL Photos

But they were better served at either end of the ground,running all over the Bulldogs for a 41-point win. And here,the questions are turned back on the faltering Bulldogs,who again couldn’t get value for all their dominance at ground level.

And their defence continues to leak. A 41-point loss hurts their percentage,will leave them out of the eight by the round’s end,and makes it next to impossible to challenge for a top-four position from here.

While the Lions struggled around the ball,they had winners at either end of the field. Charlie Cameron’s four goals and five assists from just 12 touches made him a clear best afield,while Keidean Coleman was brilliant off half-back.

The Lions didn’t get out unscathed,though. Dayne Zorko,returning from a hamstring injury,limped off after aggravating the problem within five minutes. By the end of the quarter,the normally durable Daniel Rich was on the bench with a similar injury.

Joe Daniher celebrates a goal.Credit:Getty Images

Earlier,it looked as though the Lions were in for a repeat of last week’s disaster – the Bulldogs won 11 clearances to six in the first quarter and,more worryingly for the home side,also won the tackle count and were working harder defensively.

But the Bulldogs couldn’t make the Lions pay on the scoreboard,despite dominating in attack. Indeed,both sides had their chances,kicking five behinds each for the term,the Lions hitting the post with three of them.

The Dogs quickly went three goals up early in the second quarter,sending a shudder around the Gabba – the Lions not having lost at home sincegoing down by a point to the same side in last year’s semi-final.

But despite the absence of Zorko and Rich,they found their rebound from half-back. Andrews had some big wins in the back line,marking what he could and timing his spoils to perfection when he couldn’t. Coleman repeatedly speared his kicks through the corridor.

Up forward,Joe Daniher and Lincoln McCarthy were the keys early for the Lions,Daniher hitting McCarthy with a beautifully checked pass,before Daniher had his first from four shots courtesy of Coleman. Charlie Cameron,as is his wont,got out the back for another.

But Cameron wasn’t just poaching from others. In the third quarter he exploded – working high up the ground to defend,bursting through contests,giving off goals to James Tunstill,Eric Hipwood and Daniher,kicking two more himself,and creating panic in the Bulldogs.

It broke the game open,and the Lions took a 32-point lead into the last quarter largely due to his brilliance. A goal by Zac Bailey,who had otherwise had a quiet game,was enough to put the game away,and get the Lions back on track after last week’s horror show.

BRISBANE LIONS
1.5 6.9 12.11 16.12 (108)
WESTERN BULLDOGS
2.5 5.7 7.9 9.13 (67)

GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Cameron 4,Berry 2,McCarthy 2,Daniher 2,Bailey,McCluggage,Rayner,Hipwood,Neale,Tunstill.Western Bulldogs: Naughton 2,West 2,Weightman,Liberatore,Johannisen,Treloar,Bedendo.

BEST
Brisbane Lions: Cameron,Neale,Coleman,McCarthy.Western Bulldogs: Dale,Liberatore,Macrae,Treloar.

INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Zorko (hamstring) substituted out for Prior;Rich (hamstring).Western Bulldogs: Nil.

UMPIRES
Power,Williamson,Mollison

VENUE
Gabba

CROWD
25011

VOTES
C Cameron (BL) 8
K Coleman (BL) 8
T Liberatore (WB) 7
H McCluggage (BL) 7
H Andrews (BL) 7

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