THE FINALS hopes of the Brisbane Lions are hanging by a thread following their 69-point loss to Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Despite dry conditions and only a moderate breeze, the Lions managed just one goal in the first half before finishing with five for the match.

Hawthorn ran out comfortable winners, kicking 16.14 (110) to 5.11 (41).

The manner of the defeat, as much as the loss itself, will be of concern for the Lions and their coach Leigh Matthews.

The visitors tried to lock up Hawthorn's run and close down the space around its dangerous forward line and, to an extent, the tactic was a success.

But the Lions' flow dried up too and delivery into the forward 50 suffered badly as a result.

Skipper Jonathan Brown was particularly frustrated as Luke Hodge, who was allowed to run loose across half-back for the entire afternoon, constantly dropped back into his zone to pick off the ball as it headed to the Lions superstar. Hodge ended the day with 31 possessions, while Brown's output was limited to six touches and just the one goal.

At the other end, the freakishly talented Lance Franklin broke free from the Lions' lock-down to end the match with six majors in another sensational individual performance.

Compounding the problem for the Lions was their inability to convert what scoring opportunities they did manage to create, with inaccuracy in front of goal again cruelling their cause.

Onballers Luke Power (28 disposals), Michael Rischitelli (27) and Simon Black (26) worked hard for the visitors but no player could effectively pierce the rolling zone game plan that has been so effective for Alastair Clarkson's Hawks this season.

Still, the Lions were well in the match at half time when they trailed by just 14 points despite only kicking the one goal. But they were unable to go on with it, and when the Hawks broke away midway through the third quarter, the Lions conceded 13 second half goals, while managing just four themselves.

For Hawk veteran Shane Crawford, playing his 300th game, the milestone was one to cherish – particularly after he was provided with a fairytale finish, kicking the last goal of the game to go with his 28 possessions before being mobbed by his teammates who came from every part of the ground to celebrate with their champion.

The Lions now face the Western Bulldogs, Carlton and the Swans in their last three matches, as the battle to stay in the race for a spot in the eight.

It is a tough row to hoe, especially as the Lions will be without key playmaker Josh Drummond who injured his quadricep against the Hawks and will not return this season.

Hawthorn          1.3   3.7   7.11    16.14  (110)
Brisbane Lions   1.2   1.5   2.10   5.11  (41)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Franklin 6, Rioli 3, Stokes 2, Lewis 2, Roughead, Crawford, Dew.
Brisbane Lions: Bradshaw 2, Brown, Sherman, Brennan.

BEST
Hawthorn: Franklin, Hodge, Crawford, Rioli, Mitchell, Lewis, Ellis.
Brisbane Lions: Rischitelli, Power, Johnstone, Black, Brennan.

INJURIES
Hawthorn: None
Brisbane Lions: Charman (cut head), Drummond (quad).

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Meredith, McLaren, Chamberlain
Official crowd: 19,929 at Aurora Stadium

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.