JUSTIN Leppitsch thought the worst was behind his Brisbane Lions – he was wrong.

Led by a breakout game from forward Matt Taberner, who kicked a career-high five goals, Fremantle tore the battling Brisbane Lions to shreds at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon, winning 23.9 (147) to 9.10 (64).

The 83-point loss was a new low for the Lions in a season of struggles.

Click here for full match details and stats

Both teams started the match with identical 1-10 records, but finished it worlds apart.

Amazingly, the Lions kicked the game's first three goals, but after that it was one-way traffic as Fremantle kicked 12 of the next 13, including a run of nine straight in a match-winning second quarter.

It was the second straight win for Ross Lyon's men who have now well and truly shaken clear from the bottom of the ladder.

But for Leppitsch it almost certainly spells another week in the spotlight.

TALKING POINTS: Brisbane Lions v Fremantle

In the same week deputy chairman Leigh Matthews guaranteed his coach's future for 2017, the Lions embarrassed themselves in front of their increasingly frustrated fans.

Leppitsch was dumbfounded in his post-match press conference, saying he had no explanation for the lack of fight.

"You get a couple of punches on the chin and that's it, game over. I can't explain that," Leppitsch said.

"We go into our shells, and that's a terrible term to use, but you normally fight back don't you?

"We're just not. We have to fight back better when that happens.

"You don't want to walk away saying the reason we lost was because of a lack of effort or that key moment you didn't decide to put my head over the footy. They're poor reasons to walk away and not win.

"This is one of those games unfortunately."

Fremantle should be given plenty of credit as they feasted on Lions mistakes, moved the ball quickly and got an outstanding contribution from 22-year-old Taberner.

With Matthew Pavlich watching on from home nursing a groin niggle, Taberner owned the forward 50, opening his account with a contested mark against Harris Andrews in the first quarter and piling on three second quarter goals.

He mixed strong work overhead and nimble work at ground level, highlighted by one snap after he battled Andrews and Daniel Merrett to make the initial contest before roving his own ball.

"That’s been coming for a while, he’s been working really hard and we’ve been giving him opportunities. He did well," Dockers coach Ross Lyon said.

"We came out to compete, and we came out to improve, and we thought we did that tonight.

“We’ll continue to invest [in our young players], and at the end of the day, birth certificates are out when you go down the race, you’re ready to compete and represent your club."

Chris Mayne also relished the space up forward, kicking four goals, as did Hayden Ballantyne and Lachie Weller, who had claims for best on ground with his 22 polished disposals.

He looks a class player.

GAMEBREAKER: Pav's apprentice produces the goods

Lyon's policy of playing the youngsters has started to pay dividends, with Taberner and Weller joined by eighth-gamer Connor Blakely (team high 29 disposals) and fourth-gamer Darcy Tucker (19 and two goals) among the Dockers' most significant contributors.

Lions fans have had enough, booing vociferously from the second quarter onwards, with many of the 12,899 leaving early in the third term.

They looked hesitant with the ball, turned it over often and were caught on the counter attack time after time, with the sight of multiple Fremantle players streaming unattended towards goal a common one.

MEDICAL ROOM
Brisbane Lions: Other than some bruised egos, the Lions got off relatively unscathed. Running defender Tom Cutler had his head split open early but got it taped and was one of the team's best players.
Fremantle: To add to the good night for the Dockers, they came away injury free, with just a "few bits and pieces, nothing significant" according to coach Ross Lyon.

NEXT UP
Coming off this horror loss, the Lions face Western Australia's other team next week, when they host West Coast at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles thumped the Lions in the opening round and would be heavily favoured to do so again. Fremantle will try and make it three successive wins when they host Port Adelaide at Domain Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

BRISBANE LIONS   3.3   4.6    7.6   9.10   (64)                  
FREMANTLE            3.3   12.3    18.7   23.8   (147)          

GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Schache 2, Cutler 2, Taylor 2, Rich, Bewick, Bastinac
Fremantle: Taberner 5, Mayne 4, Weller 4, Ballantyne 4, Tucker 2, Suban, Smith, Sheridan, Walters 

BEST 
Brisbane Lions: Robinson, Bewick, Cutler, Hanley
Fremantle: Taberner, Barlow, Mayne, Weller, Hill, Blakely, Pearce

INJURIES 
Brisbane: Nil
Fremantle: Nil 

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: O’Gorman, Findlay, Ryan

Official crowd: 12,899 at the Gabba