KAI LOHMANN. Charlie Cameron. Zac Bailey. Hugh McCluggage. Cam Rayner.

Five players with question marks following last week’s horror loss to Sydney produced five early moments of magic to lay the foundation for Brisbane’s runaway semi-final win over Adelaide on Saturday night.

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Before the Crows had gone inside its forward 50 for the first time, all five Lions had kicked goals and got the two-time premiers off to a start that was almost too good to be true.

Lohmann was unsighted against the Swans last week, but had the home fans out of their seats in the opening seconds when he gathered a clever Rayner tap to slot a brilliant right foot snap from near the boundary.

Moments later it was Cameron, who had just four touches a week ago, who paddled the ball into space at top speed and dribbled home a brilliant effort on the run.

Then it was Bailey’s turn. Just days after deciding it would be the Lions – and not Crows – for the next eight years of his career, he pounced on a Sam Draper spike into space, skirted the boundary line with his fast feet, took a bounce and straightened for a great finish.

Next up, McCluggage. A quiet day last week as he came back from a fourth calf injury for the year, the co-captain almost lifted the roof off the Gabba grandstand as he drilled an imperious right foot arrow from the boundary.

And finally, Rayner, receiving a clever handball from McCluggage and bursting into space before firing accurately from the top of the 50m arc.

There was still 16 minutes and 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter, yet somehow the match felt over.

Not only was the Lions’ intensity back after it took a week off, but the most dynamic, and diverse, forward line in the competition was putting the remaining teams in September on notice.

They were back, and in a big way.

Cameron finished with five goals, four coming in the match-shaping first half, and must now be considered among the great finals players of the modern era.

The scintillating small forward has played 29 finals – top 10 of all-time – and has now bagged 58 goals in the toughest of arenas.

He kicked four in last year’s Grand Final win over Geelong, separating that match either side of three-quarter-time, and was probably one or two away from a Norm Smith Medal.

This season has been one of Cameron’s best, kicking multiple goals in 21 matches and claiming a third All-Australian blazer.

All 13 of his disposals ended up in score involvements.

Bailey celebrated his contract extension in grand style, using his power and evasion to great effect, kicking three goals from 23 disposals.

His fend-off of Luke Nankervis in the second quarter, that led to a goal after a clever one-two with Josh Dunkley, was as dismissive as it was brilliant.

Rayner was another in no mood for bowing out in straight sets. Brisbane’s wrecking ball forward broke tackles at will and dished out four assists to go with his own two goals.

The selflessness in the front half of the ground was a feature of Brisbane’s play.

Then there was Lohmann, goalless for the previous three weeks and almost invisible against the Swans.

He got back to what made him one of the best half-forwards in the second half of the season, working high up the ground to get involved in passages of play and then working his backside off to get back to goal.

The ‘Showman’ not only kicked the opening goal of each half, but finished with 18 disposals, the equal second highest in his career.

They started with a bang and if the Lions bring the same intensity to start next week’s preliminary final against Hawthorn, look out.