The Brisbane Lions have been deliberate in stating they want to play attacking footy and make the Gabba a fortress again - today's stirring effort against the high-flying Swans showed they are on the way to both those goals.

A three-point loss is never easy to take but a Lions side given little chance against one of the competition's premiership favourites must stand tall after a pulsating effort in front of their home crowd.

Led by one of their best tackling efforts in recent years, the Lions were within touching distance of a second huge upset at home in as many games until Luke Parker's goal inside the final two minutes sealed the deal for the Swans.

Mitch Robinson's 19 contested possessions in his 28 disposals set the tone, along with Dayne Zorko (33 disposals, 14 inside 50s), Tom Rockliff (32 disposals, 15 contested possessions, 10 tackles), Pearce Hanley (24 disposals, 12 tackles, 2 goals) and Tom Bell (24 disposals, 12 contested possessions).

Dan Merrett, Harris Andrews and Darcy Gardiner were also strong down back, while Stefan Martin returned to form in the ruck for his 100th game.

It's now three strong efforts from three home games in 2016 - a boilover win in the QClash against then-undefeated Gold Coast, and close-run things against the League-leading Kangaroos and now the Swans.

The Lions burst out of the blocks, Rohan Bewick taking an intercept mark then hitting Dan McStay lace out, who goaled well from a sharp angle. Debutant Ben Keays then found Pearce Hanley at the top of the goal square with a nice kick for another goal.

But the Swans worked their way into the lead with four straight goals as they took control of contested ball, before a typical piece of Zorko magic from deep in the pocket dragged the Lions back to within four points.

But, just like last week, three goals in as many minutes just before quarter time to Lance Franklin and George Hewett, who both had three goals apiece by the first break, undid a lot of the home side's early good work.

The Lions trailed by 22 points at the first break but a big Pearce Hanley snap that sailed through for a goal was a good tonic for the Lions to start the second term, and they lifted across the field as the rain began to clear.

Led by Robinson with a huge 11 contested possessions for the half, the Lions muscled-up against their more-fancied rivals, improving defensive intensity in their forward 50 and make the Swans more accountable.

The Lions won clearances 12-10 for the quarter, we're just down 46-45 on contested possession and won the free kick count 7-3 as they got to the ball in front of their opponents more often than not.

There were a number of squandered opportunities as the Lions went inside 50 on 28 occasions to the Swans' 26, until young Andrews brought some impressive poise to the contest by lowering his eyes and finding Allen Christensen with a great pass.

He converted to get the margin back to 43-34.

Momentum was with the home side and Ryan Bastinac just missed on the run before Parker grabbed a settler for the visitors with a snap to take their lead out to 14 points.

It only took a minute of the third term for Franklin to again stamp his authority on the contest, with a massive left foot bomb from outside 50 sailing through for a major - but the Lions responded immediately with a lovely Lester launch on the run from 50.

Lester kicked another from a free kick soon after to shrink the Swans lead to 9 points before another piece of Parker class gave his side breathing space again.

Debutant Keays then had the Gabba crowd up and about, converting a set shot from an acute angle for his first AFL goal - his family and friends in the Section 62 seats where the young Queenslander watched the Lions as he grew up all on their feet.

Repeat forays inside 50 and some impressive tackling and pressure on the ball then produced a spectacular Bastinac soccer off the pack to get the Lions within a point just 3 minutes out from three-quarter time.

Franklin's fifth goal of the game right on the siren gave the Swans an eight-point lead at the final break, but the Lions were working overtime to stay in the contest, their tackling the best it has been all season.

The home side won contested passion 47-44 in the third term and halved clearances 12-12 as Robinson took his contested ball count to 16, and Tom Bell and Tom Rockliff each to 11.

The Swans edged away at the start of the final term but Christensen's third goal - a fine set shot after good team lead-up work cut the deficit to 10 points with 10 minutes left in the game.

Soon after, Daniel Rich goaled on the run after a big tackle by Hanley on Daniel Hannebery to reduced the margin to just four points and had the Gabba crowd on the edge of their seats.

But Parker's third goal of the day inside the final two minutes put the game out of the Lions' reach, with Josh Walker's goal on the final siren leaving his side painfully close to the most unlikely of upsets.

BRISBANE LIONS        3. 3      5. 7      10. 9    14. 10 (94)
SYDNEY SWANS          7. 1      8. 3      12. 5    15. 7 (97)

GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Christensen 3,Hanley 2, Lester 2, Rich 2, Bastinac, Keays, McStay, Walker, Zorko
Sydney Swans: Franklin 5, Hewitt 3, Parker 3, McGlynn 2, Heeney, Tippett

BEST
Brisbane Lions: Zorko, Robinson, Rich, Rockliff, Hanley, Gardiner
Sydney Swans: Franklin, Hannebery, Parker, Mitchell, Tippett, Rampe

INJURIES  TBC

Brisbane Lions: TBC

Sydney Swans: Nick Smith (knee) replaced in selected side by Zak Jones, Sinclair (knee)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Harris, Stephens, Schmitt

Official crowd: 14,646 at the Gabba

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