GREATER Western Sydney has stormed into the top four with a crushing 79-point victory over the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.

The Giants squandered chances early, but a blistering 10-goal second quarter paved the way for a comfortable 22.14 (146) to 9.13 (67) victory.

The win jumped them over Geelong, West Coast and the Sydney Swans and into fourth position with six rounds remaining.

The Giants mauled the Lions in close, winning the contested ball 202-149 and made them look three paces slower when the ball cleared the contest into open space.

Stephen Coniglio (32 touches and eight clearances), Callan Ward (31, nine clearances and three goals) and Toby Greene (29 and seven clearances) were monsters in tight, while Josh Kelly oozed class with his 26 disposals and three goals.

The forward line of Jeremy Cameron (three goals), Jonathon Patton (two) and Devon Smith (two) all dined out from a whopping 76 inside 50s.

The most disheartening thing for the home team was the ease with which the Giants' score ballooned.

In a four-minute burst late in the second quarter, GWS slammed on four goals to kill the contest off.

On multiple occasions they marked the ball within 20m of goal without a Lions player in sight, and the unselfish play was almost farcical at times.

At one stage Cameron took a mark 20m out and handpassed to an open Patton in the square for a goal.

The Giants led by 51 points at the half, and when the rain came in the third quarter, their class was even more evident as Ward and Kelly bombed difficult goals from long range.

Dayne Zorko (28 disposals) was again a shining light for the Lions, while captain Tom Rockliff (34 and two goals) tried hard and was good when he had the ball forward of centre.

MEDICAL ROOM

Brisbane Lions: Defender Dan McStay hobbled off in the third quarter with an ankle injury after landing awkwardly and is in some doubt for next week. Lewy Taylor was a late scratching – replaced by Ben Keays – after also suffering an ankle injury at training. Leppitsch said the small forward would need scans and may need surgery.
 
Greater Western Sydney: Tall forward Rory Lobb was the only casualty from the Giants' huge win, limping off in the final term with a toe injury. Coach Leon Cameron said it wasn't serious and he should be fine for next week.

NEXT UP

The Giants will look to firm up their spot in the top four with a tricky match against the improving Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval next Sunday. The Power have come into some good form in recent weeks after a competitive loss against Hawthorn followed by a victory over North Melbourne. The Lions meanwhile face off against Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

BRISBANE LIONS                       3.1   5.5     8.8      9.13    (67)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY  3.7   13.8  20.10  22.14  (146)

GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Schache 2, Rockliff 2, Mathieson, Hanley, Zorko, Hipwood, Bewick
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 3, Kelly 3, Ward 3, Greene 2, Patton 2, Smith 2, Haynes 2, Patfull, Kennedy, Lobb, Johnson, Shiel

BEST
Brisbane Lions: Zorko, Rockliff, Hipwood, Mayes
Greater Western Sydney: Ward, Coniglio, Kelly, Shiel, Greene, Cameron

INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: McStay (ankle), Lewis Taylor (corked leg) replaced in selected side by Ben Keays,
Greater Western Sydney: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Brown, Harris, Pannell

Official crowd: 10,195 at the Gabba

Latest Video: Leppitsch post-match