And the forwards delivered.
Although Lions coach Michael Voss was most impressed with his team's attack on the footy in the 65-point win against the Suns, it was his key forwards who proved the ultimate difference.
In his second game back from a fractured cheekbone, captain Jonathan Brown had 16 disposals, seven marks and three goals.
Brown's highly talented off-sider Aaron Cornelius was the cleanest forward in the greasy conditions, taking 10 marks and kicking 4.3 from his 13 touches.
It was a one-two punch that proved too much for Gold Coast, who battled to generate scoring opportunities of their own.
"I thought that combination worked well," Voss said.
"Certainly Ace (Cornelius) was quite good for us, he presented well and his work-rate was sound."
Vice-captain Tom Rockliff - who won the Marcus Ashcroft Medal as best player afield - said the dewy conditions changed the Lions' mindset.
"We thought it might have rained when we were doing our first warm-up because it was that wet on the surface," Rockliff said.
"I think we changed the way we wanted to play at the end and just tried to get the footy in long and deep and give our forwards a chance.
"Aaron presented really well tonight and Browny was himself and Rodge (Daniel Merrett) was still making a contest. It was good to have three tall timbers down there."
Brown was back to his bulldozing best and showed no signs of any mental scars from suffering three facial fractures in the past 12 months.
He took one mark running back with the flight of the ball, then ran headlong into another pack with eyes only for the footy.
Thankfully for Lions fans he quickly got back to his feet.
Voss said while it was nice having Brown and Simon Black on the park at the same time, the win was a complete team effort built on pressure.
"I thought we played pretty well. I thought we set up the game in the first half with our pressure and our attack on the footy, which hasn't been at the standard we need it to be," Voss said.
"I thought our approach to want to get the ball back when we lost it was, at times, first class. They had the belief and running power at the end to be able to execute."
Rockliff said despite holding a narrow eight-point half-time lead, he felt the Lions were in control.
"We put it on them and we knew at half-time we had them where we wanted them and it was time to put the foot on the throat," he said.
Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting
