The Giants raced into a 21-point first-quarter lead, but also lost former captain Stephen Coniglio to a cheekbone injury after a contest with Harris Andrews, depriving his side of his experience and composure on the ball.

For the first half, the Giants’ running game stretched Brisbane to its limits, allowing their midfielders, particularly the outstanding Tom Green to unleash Hogan who was unstoppable.

James Peatling scored two goals with his first two touches in the first quarter and the out-of-contract utility and reminded his club of his enduring value with several Victorian clubs interested.

Peatling’s selfless running enabled him to keep Swans’ midfielder Errol Gulden quiet for three quarters at the SCG last week and he repeated the trick at home against Brisbane, but executed it even better.

In the first two quarters, Peatling brilliantly curbed the influence of All-Australian defender Dayne Zorko, who started the game as a frustrated figure in Sydney – that was eventually going to change.

Another Brisbane star Lachie Neale suffered from the close attention of the returning tagging specialist Toby Bedford from injury who reminded his side how much he had been missed last week.

An early second-quarter goal from Kai Lohmann was the high point for Brisbane with wasteful set-shots in front of goal costing them and the Giants extended their lead to 21 points after two goals from Hogan and one from Greene.

This was part of seven successive goals for the Giants moving into the third quarter, with the side playing with such a swagger that gave defender Lachie Ash the opportunity to score his first goal of the year and ruck Kieren Briggs to join him for a rare major. The game looked to be over and the perfect medicine to be served after the disappointment of last week.

The Giants’ lead extended to 44 points before the Lions staged a highly unlikely comeback with another goal from Lohmann and majors from Charlie Cameron, Oscar McInerney, Zac Bailey and a restored and revitalised Zorko.

The Lions managed five consecutive goals in 18 kicks, cutting the Giants lead to 13 and giving coach Adam Kingsley painful nightmares of his side’s sudden shutdown the previous week against Sydney.

Greene’s third major at the start of the final quarter set his side’s nerves at bay, but it was met by a furious response from Brisbane in the shape of majors from Cameron, Eric Hipwood, Jaspa Fletcher and Zorko, reminding the Giants of his ability at both ends of the field.

Daniher scored two stunning clutch goals to give his side the most unlikely five-point victory and remind the world what makes Australian rules so special, especially when it comes to finals football.