THE DROUGHT is over. 

Brisbane has beaten Sydney for the first time in a decade at the Gabba on Saturday night and in the process passed another huge exam in its season of improvement.

With rain pouring at different stages, the Lions were able to hold off a dogged Swans and record their fifth win of the year, 14.19 (103) to 12.9 (81).

LIONS DROUGHT-BREAKER IN WET Full match coverage and stats

With the Western Bulldogs, Adelaide and Fremantle to come in the next three weeks, Brisbane has now put itself in a position to have a genuine shot at playing finals football.

Not only was it the first win over Sydney since round 22, 2009, but the nature of the performance would warm the hearts of Brisbane's coaching staff and supporters.

ZORKO MAGIC Fagan praises captain's effort in win

After establishing a 28-point quarter-time lead, they relinquished it late in the second term before absolutely dominating the second half in slippery conditions.

Only inaccurate kicking prevented a larger win.

Skipper Dayne Zorko (29 disposals, 11 clearances, 11 tackles and a goal) played his best game of the season, while Lachie Neale (29 and seven clearances) and Mitch Robinson (22, one goal and three assists) were again at the heart of everything.

Charlie Cameron, Eric Hipwood, Dan McStay and Hugh McCluggage each kicked two goals.

Brisbane had the ball camped in its attacking half for most of the match, winning the inside 50s (77-40), contested possessions (183-142) and clearances (51-44).

PAPLEY'S COURAGE Longmire expects players to follow forward's example

After years of being manhandled by the bigger Swans, the Lions stood up and beat them at the coalface.

Late in the third quarter the game was still in the balance, with Brisbane leading by just three points.

After missing two much easier set shots early in the term, Cameron gave the home team some breathing space with a perfectly executed left foot snap from deep in the right forward pocket.

Hipwood eased the tension a little further with a 50m bomb from the boundary line just prior to the last change.

Brisbane had a staggering 46 inside 50s to 20 after half-time.

Sydney was gutsy all night and made the most of its forward forays, with Tom Papley's four goals and George Hewett (34 touches) – who followed Neale around all night – the best performers.

MEDICAL ROOM
Brisbane: The Lions got through relatively unscathed. Dan McStay had a cut to his head during the second quarter but quickly returned to the field swathed in bandages and played the game out, kicking two goals.  

Sydney: Mixed news for the Swans with reliable Harry Cunningham appearing to suffer a fairly serious groin/adductor injury in the third quarter. Coach John Longmire said it looked bad. "We'll see how his scans are during the week, it doesn't look good at the moment," Longmire said. Tom Papley copped Oscar McInerney's knees in his ribs during the final quarter and after barely being able to take himself from the field, bravely returned to play out the match.

NEXT UP
Brisbane has the difficult trip to Ballarat to play the Western Bulldogs next Saturday as it looks to move to 6-2. Vice-captain Harris Andrews should be available after missing two matches with a hamstring injury. Sydney has a quick turnaround, hosting Essendon at the SCG on Friday night.

WATCH Tom Papley gallant in defeat

BRISBANE  5.6   7.8   11.15   14.19 (103)
SYDNEY      1.2   7.6   10.6    12.9 (81)

GOALS
Brisbane: McStay 2, Cameron 2, Hipwood 2, McCluggage 2, Rich, Cutler, Berry, Rayner, Robinson, Zorko
Sydney: Papley 4, Hayward 2, Dawson, Heeney, McCartin, Florent, Kennedy, Lloyd

BEST
Brisbane: Zorko, Robinson, McCluggage, Rich, Neale, Berry
Sydney: Hewett, Papley, Aliir, Kennedy, Parker

INJURIES 
Brisbane: TBC
Sydney: Cunningham (groin)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Whetton, Ryan, Fleer

Official crowd: 20,075 at the Gabba