LANCE Franklin played a starring role up forward but his teammates couldn’t match his output as Hawthorn suffered a 25-point loss to the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Franklin booted three goals in the 9.15 (69) to 6.8 (44) loss as the Hawks struggled to match the Lions’ intensity in the midfield.

After both sides had managed just eight goals between them to three-quarter time, the game burst into life in the final term.

The Hawks closed to within 13 points with three minutes to go, before goals to Michael Rischitelli and Justin Sherman shut the gate on the visitors.

Jordan Lewis, Clinton Young and Ben McGlynn were industrious through the midfield, but the Hawks were unable to find a target across half-forward until the last term, when Tim Boyle booted two goals.

Brisbane’s veteran midfielder Simon Black produced a virtuoso performance in the midfield, racking up 39 possessions, and he was well supported by premiership teammates Tim Notting, Chris Johnson and the returning Nigel Lappin.

Ashley McGrath booted three opportunistic goals to be Brisbane’s leading goalkicker. Power forward Jonathan Brown kicked just one goal, but drew more than his share of attention from the Hawthorn defence.

While Brisbane had the best of the first half, neither side was able to assert any real control until Brisbane kicked away through goals to McGrath and Cheynee Stiller late in the second quarter.

BRISBANE LIONS 2.5 5.10 6.13 9.15 (69)

HAWTHORN 1.0 2.3 2.6 6.8 (44)

Goals: Brisbane: A McGrath 3 T Notting N Lappin C Stiller J Brown M Rischitelli J Sherman. Hawthorn: L Franklin 3 T Boyle 2 T Clarke.

Best: Brisbane: S Black J Brennan L Power N Lappin J Sherman. Hawthorn: L Franklin C Young D Jacobs J Lewis T Croad.

Umpires: S Grun M Head T Pannell.

Official crowd: 27,104 at the Gabba.