BRISBANE has put last week's upset loss to Richmond behind it in emphatic fashion, trouncing Essendon by 44 points at Burpengary on Sunday.

From the opening bounce the Lions were in no mood for a close contest, and only inaccuracy stopped the 8.14 (62) to 3.0 (18) triumph from being an even greater margin.

LIONS V BOMBERS Full match coverage and stats

They generated a staggering 14 inside 50s to just one in the first quarter and were up in that statistic by 27-2 at half-time as the Bombers could barely get the ball past the centre circle.

Brisbane led by 30 points at the main break, but to Essendon's great credit they battled tirelessly in the second half to limit the damage.

Tahlia Hickie's ruck dominance paved the way for Brisbane to own the clearances (32-15), with Ally Anderson becoming the first Indigenous player in the League - and sixth player overall - to pass 1000 career disposals with her 23 touches for the day.

Emily Bates was back to her best and fairest-winning ways, racking up 19 disposals (including 10 clearances) and handling the slippery conditions with ease, while Jesse Wardlaw (two goals) was a constant presence in the Lions' forward line.

Essendon was best served by Maddi Prespakis, who dealt well with the attention of both Bates and Cathy Svarc to finish with 20 touches and a goal.

Brisbane paved the way for its win in the opening term, racing to a 19-point advantage as the midfield held sway around the contest and the defenders were proactive in keeping the ball in their forward half.

Following some early misses from close range, Hickie and Wardlaw got the ball rolling with the first two goals of the game.

Trailing by 42 points late in the third quarter, Essendon kicked its first goal courtesy of Joanne Doonan three minutes before the final change.

Did you see that?
Maybe the goalposts are thicker at Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex? Brisbane was peppering the goals in the opening half, and with the ball floating a few centimetres differently here or there, could have led by 50 points at half-time rather than 30. They hit the post not once, not twice, not three times, not four times, but incredibly, five times in what became comical by the end of the game. Wardlaw hit the post twice, but it was luckless half-forward Greta Bodey who will be cursing the woodwork the most, thumping the ball into it an incredible three times.

One to watch
Tahlia Hickie put herself on the AFLW radar last season when she had more hitouts to advantage than any ruck in the League, and her performance against the Bombers again showed a huge step in her development. Hickie kicked the game's first goal – a 35m arrow on the run – and gave the Lions complete domination around stoppages with her ruck craft. The 22-year-old is so athletic, so versatile and could play almost any position on the ground.

Up next
Brisbane has a tough assignment in round seven as it travels to Arden St Oval to take on North Melbourne next Saturday from 5.10pm (AEDT). Essendon hosts Geelong next Sunday at Reid Oval Warrnambool from 1.10pm (AEDT).
 

BRISBANE        2.7       3.12     6.12     8.14 (62)
ESSENDON       0.0       0.0       2.0       3.0 (18)

GOALS
Brisbane: Wardlaw 2, Hickie, Conway, Hodder, C.Svarc, Farquharson, Bodey
Essendon: Doonan, Prespakis, Phillips

BEST 
Brisbane: Bates, Hickie, Grider, Anderson, Wardlaw, Conway
Essendon: Prespakis, Marshall, Cain, Clarke

INJURIES 
Brisbane: Nil
Essendon: Nil

Reports: Nil

Crowd: TBC at Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex