The Lions 8.18 (66) defeated the Hawks 6.7 (43).
Brisbane Lions powerhouse forward Jonathan Brown returned from a four-match suspension to play a match-winning role, booting four goals, which included one in each quarter, in a low-scoring contest.
The triple premiership player, who was playing just his 12th match this season due a string of suspensions, revelled in the conditions.
Brown continued his trend of haunting Hawthorn with outstanding performances, particularly in 2004, after he was best-on-ground against the Hawks in round five, while he turned it on against the brown and gold at York Park in the Wizard Home Loans Cup.
And who could forget Brown's courageous, running back into the pack with the flight of the ball mark against the Hawks at the MCG in 2002.
He was joined by four-time premiership player and Lions' veteran Martin Pike, who was brilliant in the wet, windy and cold conditions, racking up 29 disposals - the most for the match. Pike's ability to win and utilise the ball with effectiveness was telling.
'The Famous Five' - Michael Voss, Simon Black, Jason Akermanis, Nigel Lappin and Luke Power - were the cream that came to the top in trying weather, as they collected almost 120 disposals.
Last year's National's AFL rising star winner Sam Mitchell was among Hawthorn's best with 22 touches, while Lance Picioane and Adrian Cox played arguably their best matches of 2004.
With the lights on for the start of play, the visitors quickly switched on when crumbing forward Craig McRae opened proceedings, but it proved to be a low-scoring first half, as just five goals were registered.
Brown was the Lions only other goalkicker before half-time, when he booted one in each quarter, while Angelo Lekkas was Hawthorn's only converter in the first-half, when he booted two goals, both in the first quarter.
After leading by just two points at quarter-time, the Lions completely dominated the second term, although the margin was just 15 points at the main break.
The Lions posted 1.7 in the second quarter, which included five rushed behinds, as the Hawks failed to add to its 2.3. Brown's second came at the 13-minute mark.
The third quarter was a fascinating contest, as the Hawks took it right up to the Lions, when they booted four goals to three. Nick Holland and Cox came to the fore in the third quarter when they both kicked two goals each for the quarter.
Holland added Hawthorn's first since the 16-minute mark of the opening quarter and when Cox opened his account, the mo-hawked Hawk, put his side within four points of the Lions.
Although Brown jagged his third early in the term, it wasn't until McRae slammed his second and Tim Notting immediately followed up that the Lions gained some breathing space and were back out to a 16-point lead, which was the biggest lead of the match.
Hawthorn refused to lie down and when Cox added his second, the Hawks trailed by just 10 points at three quarter-time.
Although a nail-biting finish was on the cards for the final quarter, the might of the Lions did enough in the final term to end any thought of a shock victory by the Hawks, as the visitors added two goals to zip.
Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews said he was pleased to get the four points in trying conditions.
"You slog your way through those conditions. I'm trying to think of the last time we played on a surface that got wet and churned up - it doesn’t happen a great deal in the modern era, so that made it a just real slog," Matthews said post-match
"So we were just happy that we were able to find a way to be in front. You don't get much out of the game, but you certainly get the win."
Hawthorn coach Donald McDonald said he was more frustrated rather than disappointed with the defeat.
"I was really looking forward to today's game as a great opportunity for our players to pit ourselves against the best and we lost (but) we were competitive in the first quarter, but they got away in the second quarter," McDonald said after the loss.
"To the players' credit, in the third quarter they really fought back and gave our supporters some hope and in the last quarter still, we had opportunities, but we just couldn't nail them."
Hawthorn: 2.3 2.3 6.4 6.7 (43)
Brisbane Lions: 2.5 3.12 6.14 8.18 (66)
Goals: Hawthorn: Cox 2, Holland 2, Lekkas 2
Brisbane Lions: Brown 4, McRae 2, Black, Notting
Best: Hawthorn: Mitchell, Picioane, Cox, Hodge, Croad, Holland
Brisbane Lions: Pike, Brown, Power, Lappin, Voss, Black, Akermanis, Johnson, White
Injuries: Hawthorn: Thompson (hamstring)
Brisbane Lions: Brown (corked thigh)
Changes: Hawthorn Barker replaced in selected side by Lonie.
Brisbane Lions: Nil
Umpires: Grun, Schmitt, Wenn
Crowd: 17,159 at the MCG.
