Brisbane Lions thrash Sydney Swans in Gabba showdown

The Brisbane Lions defeated the Sydney Swans by 43 points at the Gabba, strengthening their push for a top‑six finish. Star midfielder Chad Warner delivered four goals, 28 disposals and eight clearances, while forward Charlie Curnow added three goals. Dean Cox welcomed the return of Errol Gulden and praised Curnow’s effort, saying “plain and simple” the Lions were “cleaner, tougher, hungrier”. Cox criticized the Swans for relying on a single phase of play, noting “you can’t just rely on one phase of your game to get going”. The loss exposed the Swans’ vulnerabilities, with a struggling forward line and injuries mounting. Brisbane now faces a challenging run of matches against the Western Bulldogs, Fremantle and other top‑six teams, while the Swans must regroup ahead of upcoming games against the Bulldogs, Dockers and Crows.