Let's flashback to Round 5, 10 years ago, as the Hawks continued their perfect start to the season….
Sitting equal-top of the AFL ladder after an unbeaten opening four rounds, the Hawks travelled to the Gabba to take on the ninth-placed Lions searching for their first win at the ground since Round 18, 2000.
Midfield heavyweights Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis returned to the side, as did key defender Trent Croad, with Travis Tuck, Thomas Murphy and Cameron Stokes the few to make way.
QT: Twin towers Jarryd Roughead and Lance Franklin got the Hawks off to an ideal start with a goal each before the Lions hit back with two of their own via Daniel Bradshaw and Rhan Hooper.
Xavier Ellis edged the Hawks in front before Brisbane scored three of the next four goals to take a four-point lead into quarter time.
HT: The Hawks looked to have their hands full when Bradshaw slotted a second within the first minute, but majors to Mark Williams and Michael Osbourne stole back the lead.
The two sides went goal for goal as star Lion Jonathan Brown found himself on report after crashing into Sam Mitchell late in a marking contest, with the Hawks captain goaling from the consequent fifty metre penalty.
Cyril Rioli and Clinton Young crumbed a pair of spilt Franklin marks to goal, before Buddy himself nailed his third major from inside the centre square, giving the Hawks an eight-point advantage at the main break.
3QT: Tight up against the boundary line, it was Franklin this time slotting a goal in the opening minute before counterpart Bradshaw again hit the scoreboard as he continued to provide the Hawks with plenty of headaches.
Lion Ashley McGrath brought the Lions back to within two points when he scored the the home side’s second in a row before Rioli gave the Hawks a little breathing space with a curling goal, also from the boundary.
A fifth major to Bradshaw and another to veteran Travis Johnstone suddenly had Brisbane in front but, continuing his dominance, Franklin scored a fifth of his own to edged the Hawks ahead and set up a tight final quarter.
FT: Three goals in the opening six minutes saw the Hawks all but put the contest to bed.
Franklin opened the term with two in a row to take his tally for the night to seven while Trent Croad continued to star for the Hawks down back, keeping Jonathon Brown goalless.
Williams also bobbed up to push the margin out to 21 points as Mitchell (32 disposals) and Brad Sewell (27) gave the side plenty of drive through the middle.
Spearhead Bradshaw kept the Lions in it with two more goals, finishing with a bag of seven, while Buddy continued to go one better, finishing with eight (and six behinds), as the Hawks ran out 12-point winners.
HAWTHORN 4.5 10.9 14.13 19.16 (130)
BRISBANE LIONS 5.3 9.7 14.11 17.16 (118)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Franklin 8, Rioli 2, Williams 2, Mitchell, Sewell, Hodge, Osborne, Young, Ellis, Roughead
Brisbane Lions: Bradshaw 7, Johnstone 2, McGrath 2, Adcock, Corrie, Hooper, Charman, Begley, Leuenberger
BEST
Hawthorn: Franklin, Croad, Mitchell, Sewell, Crawford, Burchill
Brisbane Lions: Black, Bradshaw, Power, Johnstone, Sherman, Rischitelli
Injuries:
Brisbane Lions: N Lappin (Achilles) replaced in selected side by R Copeland. Hawthorn: Nil.
Reports: J Brown (Brisbane Lions) by umpire L Farmer for charging S Mitchell (Hawthorn) in second quarter.
Umpires: Farmer, Chamberlain, McInerney
Official crowd: 30,019 at the Gabba
