After a 0-8 start to the 2011 season, Round 9 against North Melbourne was a welcome triumph for the Brisbane Lions in front of a home crowd.

The 'King of the Jungle' was back and the drought had been broken for the Lions.

Skipper Jonathan Brown returned to the side - playing for the first time since the opening round - after making a full recovery from eight severe facial fractures eight weeks earlier at the Gabba.

Early in the evening, it looked like anyone's match.

It took until the 21st minute before the Lions kicked their first through Mitch Clark.

North held the lead at half-time by 13 points as rain drizzled down at the Gabba.

Three goals from Browny in the third quarter got the Lions to within five points of North.

A fourth goal early in the final quarter levelled the scores to 58-all.

North's form slipped poorly in the last stanza, managing only two behinds.

It was an alleviating first victory for the Lions, taking down North by 14 points to triumph 10.13 (73) to 8.11 (59). 

Midfielder Simon Black broke the record for most games played at the Gabba by a Lion (148), beating Michael Voss and Nigel Lappin (both 147).

Black finished with 23 disposals, the second-highest Lion behind defender Jed Adcock who tallied 26 touches and 11 marks.

While it may have been battle of 13th versus 17th on the ladder, as the Club song rang out as the full-time siren sound, the atmosphere in the Gabba was electric. 

Daniel Merrett, James Polkinghorne and Mitch Clark celebrate the victory.