The Brisbane Lions' senior brigade stood tall to release the pressure on Justin Leppitsch with a thumping 37-point victory at Etihad Stadium.

The Lions were cleaner by foot and more efficient in front of goal as they ended a club record 12-game losing streak, 20.8 (128) to 12.19 (91).

Led by skipper Tom Rockliff (38 disposals, one goal), the Lions' senior players ran rampant. Daniel Rich (27, one goal) was outstanding, while Pearce Hanley (31, one goal) and ruckman Stefan Martin (25, one goal) also feasted on the ball in a free-flowing encounter under the closed Etihad Stadium roof.

The Lions peppered the scoreboard with 13 individual goalkickerscashing in on the lacklustre Bombers – and returning forward Josh Walker bagging four majors.

It was only the second win for Leppitsch's side after their QClash triumph over Gold Coast in round four, but it lifted them a game and five per cent clear of the Dons.

Going into a clash as favourites – unthinkable once 12 of their best players were suspended before the season for doping offences – the Bombers looked surprisingly flat and butchered the ball in a disappointing performance.

The Lions showed no fear of what would have awaited had they lost on Sunday and came out with energy and vigour.

The visitors piled on three majors before Essendon had even taken the ball inside 50 and led by 17 points at the first change.

The Lions piled on six goals to one in the third term to open up a 40-point break and put the foot down in the final term as they romped to their highest-score for the season.

The Lions had winners everywhere, with Ryan Bastinac (30 touches) racking up disposals, Tom Cutler (two goals), Liam Dawson (two) and Eric Hipwood (one) showing some positive signs.

A record six graduates from the Hyundai Help For Kids Lions Academy played for the Lions today - Dawson, Hipwood, Ben Keays, Harris Andrews, Reuben William and Matt Hammelmann.

ESSENDON     3.4       6.9       7.14    12.19 (91)
BRISBANE LIONS     6.3       9.4       15.6    20.8 (128)

GOALS
Essendon: Daniher 4, Fantasia 3, Langford, Hams, Dempsey, Brown, McDonald-Tipungwuti
Brisbane Lions: Walker 4, Mathieson 2, Cutler 2, Green 2, Dawson 2, Bewick, Martin, Hipwood, Bastinac, Mayes, Hanley, Rockliff, Rich

BEST
Essendon: Goddard, Parish, Daniher, Merrett
Brisbane Lions: Rockliff, Zorko, Robinson, Hanley, Martin, Walker

INJURIES
Essendon: Daniher (teeth)
Brisbane Lions: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, Fisher, O'Gorman

Official crowd: 34,869 at Etihad Stadium

Watch Leppitsch post-match