Brisbane midfielders Travis Johnstone, Bradd Dalziell and Scott Harding put their hands up for a senior recall after destroying class QAFL unit Southport at the Gabba on Saturday.

The dynamic trio ensured there would be no repeat of last week’s embarrassing performance in Darwin by demoralizing the Sharks with their speed and skill.

Johnstone was in danger of contracting leather poisoning at halftime and had close to 50 possessions for the day, while Dalziell seemed to have his hands on the ball whenever the former No.1 AFL draft pick didn’t.

Consequently the Lions won 22.14 (146) to 9.6 (60), inflicting their biggest ever victory over the Sharks.

The 86-point margin was also the third biggest loss in the Sharks’ history and their worst defeat since going down to Zillmere by 89 points at O’Callaghan Park in Round 11, 2006.

The Lions fielded 15 listed players, one short of the maximum, but every one of them was a contributor.

It meant that while the Sharks battled hard, they were eventually going to run out of the stamina to stick with their highly trained opponents, and the dam wall burst midway through the third term.

The Lions had opened with a 5.3-1.3 first term although the Sharks battled manfully to keep the margin to 38 points at the long break.

Justin Kahlefeldt sparked them immediately after the break, kicking two goals as the Sharks booted three in a row to get back to within three goals.

That only stung the Lions and the home side booted five quick goals in reply to have the issue sealed by the last break, then rode roughshod with an eight-goal-to-three final term.

Not only were Johnstone and Dalziell running rampant, but the Sharks also had to contend with quality midfielder Scott Harding, who has been a terrific player at QAFL whenever he has played reserves over the last three seasons.

Harding not only contributed strongly to the midfield blitz, but capped a fine game with four goals.

Johnstone kicked three as did Tom Rockliff, who continued to press his case for senior selection after being on the brink in recent weeks.

On the occasions the Sharks were able to get the ball forward, Jason Roe was in deft touch and centre-half-back and provided plenty of rebound for his side.

The Lions were also delighted with the performances of Adam Spackman and Pearce Hanley, who ran the opposition off their feet.

Both have battled injury problems over the first half of the season but are starting to run into some good form.

Daniel Dzufer provided his regular run from half-back, making life incredibly difficult for the Sharks, who went into the game with some confidence having won at the Gabba on four of their previous five visits.

For the Sharks, Darren O’Brien worked overtime in defence and was his side’s best player behind the gutsy Kahlefeldt, whose high fitness levels saw him run strongly for the full four quarters.

Broc McAuley won his share of knocks in a keen battle with Joel Tippett, while Jarrod Thompson, Ben Merrett and David Lynch did some good things at times.

The loss almost certainly ended Southport’s minor premiership hopes, falling two games and percentage behind Morningside, and leaving themselves open to challenge from both the Lions and NT Thunder.

But victory was a huge boost for the Lions, who moved a game clear inside the top five and more importantly are now just a game behind the three sides sitting second, third and fourth.

SCORES

Brisbane Lions    5.3    9.5   14.12   22.14 (146)
Southport             1.3    3.3   6.4       9.6 (60)

GOALS - Lions: Goals: S. Harding 4, T. Johnstone 3, T. Rockliff 3, J.
Bruekers 2, M. Tyler 2, B. Dalziell 2, L. Henderson 2, J. Tippett, D.
Murray, A. Cornelius, B. Boland. Sharks: D. Lynch 2, J. Kahlefeldt 2, B. Merrett, D. O'Brien, B. Headland, D. Charleston, J. Thompson.

BEST - Lions: B. Dalziell, T. Johnstone, S. Harding, T. Rockliff, A. Spackman, P. Hanley. Sharks: J. Kahlefeldt, D. O'Brien, D. Lynch, J. Thompson, B. McCauley, B. Merrett.