Jordan Lewis celebrated his 250th AFL game in style on Saturday, leading Hawthorn to a commanding 48-point victory over Brisbane.
With sidelined star and best mate Jarryd Roughead making the trip to watch from the stands, veteran midfielder Lewis was electric, picking up a game-high 42 touches and nine clearances as the Hawks claimed a hard-fought 21.9 (135) to 13.9 (87) win in their first match since 2008 at the Gabba.
It lifts Hawthorn into fifth spot, just outside the top four on percentage, after last week's loss to Sydney.
"We're going along OK without playing brilliantly," coach Alastair Clarkson said.
"We just didn't use the ball as well as what we'd like.
"We showed some fighting qualities to really run the game out well. We're pretty pleased with the eight-goal victory."
The usual suspects ran riot - Cyril Rioli finished with five goals, Josh Gibson (26 disposals, seven tackles) was busy and Jack Gunston and Luke Breust were threatening against a leaky Lions defence with two goals apiece.
But Brisbane, who had lost their previous three games by a combined 218 points, made the Hawks work supremely hard for it.
The way the scoreboard blew out dramatically late in the match - Hawthorn booted nine of the last 10 goals, and did so with ease - was a concern but the totality of the performance largely pleased coach Justin Leppitsch.
"No one likes having a seven-goal loss when it doesn't look that way," Leppitsch said.
"It's not like it's a huge issue but it's a stone in your shoe, when you finish like that.
"I don't know what to feel about it, to be perfectly honest - I just hope we don't carry that into next week and let that despair get us down."
Mitch Robinson was outstanding with 26 possessions - more than half of them contested - while Allen Christensen (31 disposals) provided spark and Lewis Taylor (23 touches, three goals) had arguably the best game of his AFL career.
The Hawks weren't able to put the Lions away until the final term, finally shaking them off with back-to-back goals from Lewis and Rioli, just a minute apart, before piling on the hurt.
There was a sour note - Hawthorn cult hero Matt Spangher, who was playing his first AFL match since round 17 last year, lasted only a few minutes before coming off with injury and didn't return.
Clarkson said it was unclear if it was a knee or soft-tissue injury, but said Spangher would be unlikely to play again next week.
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