Chris Fagan eased fears over Charlie Cameron’s knee injury after Brisbane climbed into second spot on the AFL ladder with a comfortable 24-point win over the Western Bulldogs.
The Lions prevailed 14.12 (96) to 11.6 (72) in a fast-paced contest at the Gabba on Saturday night.
But Cameron sent a huge scare through the home camp when he jumped for a mark and landed awkwardly during the final term.
The All-Australian forward lay clutching his left knee and hobbled off the playing arena with trainers.
He was assessed by medical staff and sent back onto the field with the joint strapped before sitting out the last two minutes.
“I think it’s more like a bit of a bang on the ground than any structural damage but we’ll just have to wait and see on that one,” Lions coach Fagan said.
“It’s too early to tell … hopefully, I think, it’s nothing major.”
Brownlow Medal favourite Lachie Neale led a dominant Lions midfield with a season-best 36 disposals, 12 clearances and a goal alongside fellow standouts Dayne Zorko (24 possessions) and Jarryd Lyons (26).
Their control of the contest with ruckman Oscar McInerney led to a 54-46 inside-50 advantage as the Brisbane forwards delivered on their promise to improve their accuracy after kicking themselves out of the match in a loss to Richmond four days earlier.
Eric Hipwood kicked five goals for the winners in his best return of the season as Callum Ah Chee, Zac Bailey and Hugh McCluggage kicked two apiece.
“We’ve played four games in 13 days and to have two four-day breaks and come out and play like that against a really good opposition, I was really proud of our team and the grit that they showed,” Fagan said.
Jack Macrae led all ball-winners with 40 disposals for the Bulldogs and Marcus Bontempelli (30) was busy as usual.
But the visitors had few clear-cut winners in a third-straight defeat that left them sitting outside the top-eight.
A scintillating five-goal burst from the Lions before half-time broke the game open as Neale, Zorko and Lyons ran riot and gave the home side a 30-point advantage at the main break.
They never looked like being seriously challenged from that point, marching to an 8-2 record to sit second behind ladder leaders Port Adelaide.