Brisbane coach Chris Fagan concedes he is unsure if the MCG is still an issue for the Lions after their premiership credentials took a major hit in an upset 25-point defeat to Hawthorn.
In their first outing at the home of the grand final this season, the Lions never looked comfortable against the Hawks, who have won three of their past four games.
Trailing by 17 points at halftime, Hawthorn opened the game up with six goals to two in the third quarter as midfielder Jai Newcombe swung momentum in the Hawks’ favour.
Hawthorn had an answer for every Lions challenge to secure a 15.8 (98) to 11.7 (73) upset to make it four straight victories over Brisbane dating back to 2020.
The result raises serious questions about if the fourth-placed Lions can end their 20-year premiership drought.
Brisbane have won just once in their past 14 outings at the MCG, with their only victory at the famous Melbourne venue coming in extraordinary fashion when they upset the Demons in last year’s semi-final.
The Lions are unbeaten at their Gabba fortress this year, including wins against Collingwood and Melbourne, but have lost their past two matches to drop to 8-4 and further adrift of the Magpies and Port Adelaide in the top two.
Fagan said their MCG record wasn't an issue "unless you want to make it one".
"We didn't talk about it (the MCG) today," he said.
"I felt last year we had some good performances here and some not so good performances.
"We'll try and do a better job the next time we come here ... but the answer is I don't know.
"We've been OK here as we'll see what happens next time we come here."
In an added blow for the Lions, star Hugh McLuggage suffered a concussion midway through the fourth quarter when he was knocked out cold following a tackle from Hawthorn captain James Sicily.
McLuggage failed to move for almost a minute before staggering off the field slowly with the help of trainers.
Sicily, who was only returning from a suspension, is certain to be in trouble with the match review officer with the AFL clamping down on dangerous tackles this year.
The Lions were a man down on the bench for the rest of the match after already substituting out veteran Daniel Rich for Keidean Coleman.
Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said he hadn't watched a replay of the tackle but felt for McLuggage being concussed.
"At the time I thought it was such a desperate act, he's diving and just managed to get fingertips onto him so I thought it was a great tackle," Mitchell said.
"The players are really well aware of the tackling and I think we're seeing changes of technique, guys not trying to bring other people to ground deliberately."
Hawthorn's key forwards were outstanding, with Mitch Lewis (four goals) and Jacob Koschitzke (three) causing havoc for Brisbane's defence.
Eric Hipwood was the Lions' most threatening forward, kicking four goals during a super period late in the second quarter and early in the third.
Brisbane will back up on Friday night when they host Sydney at the Gabba, while Hawthorn have the bye before travelling to play Gold Coast in round 15.
