It was against the cellar dwellers, but the Brisbane Lions’ roar was deafening

Bullying the competition cellar dwellers may not be the most emphatic of premiership flexes, but the nature in which the Brisbane Lions decimated Essendon was a signal that irrespective of the opposition, they would be out to make a statement.

But a fourth-quarter fade-out may have left coach Chris Fagan frustrated, and nearly cost them the chance to leapfrog into the AFL’s top four.

Spearheaded by the returning Dayne Zorko, the two-time defending champions edged themselves to the cusp of the top four – the 22.17 (149) to 8.11 (59) triumph their fifth on the trot as the scent of a title three-peat to rival the legendary Lions of the early 2000s becomes more potent by the round.

Fagan’s men cast aside a frustrating month in which their title credentials were called into question on the back of three consecutive losses, during which a backline missing Zorko due to a quad injury struggled to get in sync and direct traffic out of their own end.

But with the tireless veteran making his comeback on Sunday afternoon in lethal fashion, Brisbane were unstoppable against an Essendon outfit still waiting for their second win of the season – their lone success dating back to April 11 against the Demons.

And while the hapless Bombers is hardly the scalp that will make the Lions’ fellow heavyweights shudder in fear, the fact they never looked like they left cruise control was perhaps the most ominous warning they issued at the Gabba.

Fagan’s only irk by the half-time break likely would have been his side’s execution inside 50 – their efficiency just 54.1 per cent, despite taking a commanding 52-point lead.

Zorko dominated proceedings from the back field, finishing the Sunday clash with 32 disposals to send a timely reminder to Lions hierarchy of just how influential he was as the 37-year-old chases another contract extension.

The timeless veteran gave his midfield countless opportunities to probe further forward – Will Ashcroft (three goals, 33 disposals, eight clearances) combining regularly with brother Levi, including for the latter’s first of two goals, while Lachie Neale (40 disposals, five clearances) seemed to be everywhere without breaking a sweat.

Kai Lohmann proved the most clinical in front of the sticks in across the opening two terms – kicking three goals, including one from a brilliant overhead mark in a congested contest.

But any inconsistencies Brisbane had on the attack were quickly eradicating coming out of the major break – two goals from Eric Hipwood, and others from Logan Morris, former Bomber Sam Draper and Josh Dunkley ensuring the clash resembled more of a bloodbath than a game of footy.

Morris’ second after drawing a free directly in front brought up Brisbane’s century, with the 21-year-old kicking another to keep himself in the hunt for the Coleman Medal.

It took more than 37 minutes for Essendon to finally nail a goal through Peter Wright, as the Lions’ defensive unit – spearheaded by Ty Gallop – refused to give them any chances.

The Bombers had to wait until the first minute of the fourth term for their second goal, again through a Wright set shot.

Nate Caddy (two), Andrew McGrath, Isaac Kako and Sam Durham added their names to the scoresheet, with Wright booting a third, as Brisbane took their foot off the gas and nearly cost themselves the chance to jump Adelaide into the top four on percentage.

It took a rapid Will Ashcroft double to ensure they moved up the ladder.

“I really liked our first three quarters, I thought we were fantastic in offence and stingy in defence. It was a little bit disappointing we allowed them to kick seven goals in the last quarter,” Fagan said.

“But I guess, if you had’ve said to me before the day started we’d get a good strong 90-point win I probably would’ve taken it. It’s hard to maintain the intensity, I just thought in the first three quarters our hunt and pressure was fantastic.”

Each time the Lions began to move the ball through the corridor, they seemed to have so much time to do their bidding in what proved a harsh lesson in just how long this rebuild may take – regardless of who they settle on to take the coaching reigns long-term.

But the fact they won the fourth quarter – kicking 7.2 to 6.3, while staring down a 95-point deficit at the last break, as Zorko rested for much of the term – no doubt brought some joy and signs of promise to interim honcho Dean Solomon.

“We got a footy lesson today, and we got great exposure against what it takes to be the best, and how it looks, and how it feels. That’s what we’re aspiring to be, we’re a long way off it, and you can only start somewhere,” Solomon said.

“There’s a lot we’re doing that’s not transferring at the moment, and for our members and supporters, we want you to stick strong, be patient, and understand this is for the long-term … there is no short-cut here.”

McCluggage returns, but when will he unleash?

Since returning from a calf injury suffered in the first quarter of opening round, Hugh McCluggage has been a shadow of the man who stormed into a maiden All-Australian blazer last season.

The Brisbane co-captain missed a further four weeks with a similar issue, and made his comeback alongside Zorko off the interchange on Sunday – albeit with lesser success, aside from an early goal.

“It was happy with both of them, they’ve both been out for a fairly long time and had interrupted seasons with injuries,” Fagan said.

Having averaged just 17 touches a game this year, 10 fewer than his 2025 exploits, the 28-year-old McCluggage was afforded an opportunity to ease back into the mix as his teammates dominated their younger and under siege rivals – finishing with 16 touches and two clearances.

He produced a nice play-on touch after a mark to gift Charlie Cameron his second goal in a quiet but faultless performance.

The injury-interrupted year McCluggage has endured – limited to just 10 of a possible 17 games – has Lions fans pondering when they will see the best of their superstar.

If he can time his run and rediscover his best in the latter exchanges of the campaign, as his team continue winning without him in his old destructive touch, then he looms as a finals X-factor who can truly trigger Brisbane to a third-straight flag.