Kai Lohmann was The Showman with five goals and Brisbane put on a defensive clinic to roar back into the top four with a 67-point statement victory over Hawthorn at the Gabba on Friday night.

Six days after conceding 154 points to Carlton, the Lions were a completely different outfit, suffocating the Hawks in front of a bumper home crowd of 33,003.

Following a tight first quarter, Brisbane kicked six goals in the second to blow the game open and added five in the third on the way to a rousing 18.17 (125) to 8.10 (58) win.

Lohmann was magnificent, using a high-octane work-rate to kick his five from 24 disposals.

The flashy half-forward built his performance on lung-busting running and then added the polish with some exquisite finishing.

Logan Morris helped lay the foundation with four first half goals on Tom Barrass, while Eric Hipwood (three goals) and Charlie Cameron (two) were also dangerous in a well-oiled forward line.

At the other end of the ground, Hawthorn struggled to make inroads against a resolute Lions defence.

With Noah Answerth keeping Nick Watson goalless, Darcy Gardiner doing a fine job on Jack Gunston (three goals), and Harris Andrews controlling the air, the Hawks had few answers.

While each end of the ground was good for Brisbane, the tone for victory was set by its ravenous defensive pressure. 

Hawthorn won the raw clearance numbers comfortably, but the Lions' midfield hassled them into hurried possessions and repeatedly forced turnovers.

Lachie Neale finished with 35 disposals, but it was his eight first-half tackles that caught the eye.

Will Ashcroft (39 touches, 13 score involvements) continued his red-hot form, with younger brother Levi (27) and Josh Dunkley (24) also strong contributors.

In his 250th game, favourite son Ryan Lester kicked a late goal that brought the delirious crowd to its feet.

Hawthorn will remain in third spot on the ladder, but it was a hard lesson on the level it will need to reach in September to push the premiership contenders.

In complete contrast to last week's loss, Brisbane's intensity was through the roof from the opening minutes.

With Andrews repeatedly winning the ball back in his defensive 50, wave after wave of Lions ran forward to force their opponents into error.

Morris executed two lovely long range drop punts in the first quarter to give the hosts a six-point lead before they exploded in the second.

Brisbane kicked six goals to three for the term to lead by 28 at the main break, with the Gabba crowd the loudest it's been in 2026.

Morris continued to trouble Barrass, adding two more, while Lohmann's workrate – both with and without the ball – was instrumental in multiple goals, including one for himself.

Jarman Impey gave the visitors life just prior to half-time when he drilled a brilliant running goal just before the siren.

The Lions aren't going anywhere
Just when you think there's a chink in Brisbane's armour, they iron it out. Following last week's heavy loss to Carlton, many wondered whether the Lions had the hunger to ramp up their defensive intensity to push for a third straight premiership. Like they've done so often in the past three years, they answered emphatically. When they close opposition space early in a match, you know they're on, and when they're on, they're still the team to beat. 

Where do the Hawks go when the Wizard is quiet?
It's been rare in 2026, but Nick 'Wizard' Watson was quiet and the Hawks struggled to find other avenues to goal. Followed by Noah Answerth for much of the night, Watson missed one very gettable chance on the run in the second quarter, but otherwise was quiet inside 50, finishing with just three kicks from nine disposals. Jack Gunston (three goals) was serviceable, but Mabior Chol and Mitch Lewis struggled to impact. The Lions put enormous pressure on Hawthorn's delivery, but getting the right mix is Sam Mitchell's big challenge.

Kai Lohmann is having a sneaky great season
By his own admission, Lohmann had a slow start to 2026, but since the Lions' mid-season bye, he has been white-hot. With his five goals tonight, the flashy forward now has 46 for the season, including 24 in his past seven games. Lohmann was everywhere, tearing up and down the Gabba to create a bevvy of scoring chances for his team through his hard running. Could he be a sneaky All-Australian squad contender?

BRISBANE     2.3   8.8   13.12   18.17 (125)
HAWTHORN   1.3   4.4   6.8   8.10 (58)

GOALS
Brisbane: Lohmann 5, Morris 4, Cameron 3, Hipwood 2, Rayner, Lester, Draper, Annable
Hawthorn: Gunston 3, Weddle, Moore, Macdonald, Impey, D'Ambrosio

BEST
Brisbane: Lohmann, W.Ashcroft, Neale, Andrews, Morris, L.Ashcroft
Hawthorn: Newcombe, Ward, Moore

INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil

Crowd: 33,003 at the Gabba