A full-throttle second half has seen the high-flying Brisbane Lions record their longest winning streak in NEAFL history in a 94-point victory over a depleted Canberra Demons side at UNSW Canberra Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Demons remained in the hunt at 26 points down at half-time, before the Lions ran in 15 second-half goals to the hosts’ four en route to clinching their ninth straight win in a 23.15 (153) to 8.11 (59) triumph.

Brisbane captain Liam Dawson said the record-breaking run has brought a great vibe to the club.

“It’s awesome,” Dawson said. “The boys have played very well all year … It’s great to reap the rewards now and the boys are really feeling good about it all.

“They were coming out pretty excited and raring to go today and it’s just an exciting time for the club.”

He said the side’s second-half surge was a matter of cleaning up a couple of key aspects addressed at the main break.

“At half-time ‘Mitchy’ (coach Mitch Hahn) spoke about the contested footy and a bit of composure around the back half,” Dawson said.

“We did that a lot better in the third and especially in the fourth … Putting the foot on the throat – that was the overarching theme.”

The Lions booted six third-term majors to the Demons’ three to take a 43-point buffer into the final change, before slamming home another nine goals to Canberra’s one in the fourth quarter.

Blossoming Brisbane forward Connor Ballenden – up and about after being invited to October’s NAB AFL Draft Combine – bagged three of his side’s six third-quarter goals in a display of strong leading and deadeye accuracy in front of the woodwork.

The 18-year-old kicked four goals for the day, while fellow forwards Matthew Hammelmann (five goals) and Archie Smith (four goals) also wreaked havoc.

It was a silver-class midfield service buoyed by Marco Paparone (37 disposals), Claye Beams (34) and Josh Clayton (34) that fed the onslaught on goal.

Meanwhile, midfielder Alex Smout (27 disposals) and forward Nick Pleming (16 disposals, two goals) were two of Canberra’s best as their teammates struggled to make inroads.

But Demons player-coach Kade Klemke said his side was not helped by the late withdrawal of ruckman Cameron Milne or the early loss of star on-baller Jordan Harper.

“Jordan’s a pretty important player for us,” Klemke said.

“He gives you that outside run, and ‘Milney’ is the tallest player on our list and he just gives you that effort in the ruck … We had to sacrifice someone like a Swan (Andrew Swan) in there who you’d prefer playing in the midfield.”

As for the side’s second half, Klemke said the Demons played well for three quarters before losing their way in the final term.

“On a lot of things that we base our KPIs (key performance indicators) we are quite happy with three quarters.”

It was the youngest player in battle – 17-year-old GIANTS Academy member Maxwell Beaumont – who pocketed the opening goal of the game.

On debut for the Demons and with just four NEAFL games under his belt for the GIANTS, the young forward punched well above his weight to take a brilliant pack mark before goaling from right in front 12 minutes in.

In a series of events for those who fancy their trivia, it would then be the oldest player on ground – 27-year-old 100-game AFL player Rowan Bewick – who claimed the second major of the afternoon when he nailed a set shot from the 50m arc two minutes later.

Bewick was everywhere to be seen in the opening term, racking up 16 disposals before Brisbane took a 14-point lead into quarter-time.

The Lions welcomed the Demons back into the contest early in the second stanza, coughing up the Sherrin off a kick-in in the fourth minute as Fulford kicked his first of two goals of the term.

But Brisbane responded with a quadruplet of consecutive majors, the fourth a coast-to-coast goal for the highlights reel iced by defender Ryan Harwood.

Mitch Hahn’s men took a 26-point buffer into half-time before Ballenden slotted his second goal of the day at the 10-minute mark of the premiership quarter to extended the Lions’ lead.

As they managed to do time and again, the Demons continued to bite at the Lions’ heels when Pleming swooped on an over-the-back kick off a Brisbane turnover midway through the quarter before reducing the deficit back to 26 points.

But Brisbane would take the game by the scruff of the neck, storming to five of the following seven goals in a high-scoring quarter to all but throw water on the cinders of a potential Demons win.

The Lions continued to enjoy their trip to the nation’s capital in the final term in preparation for a blockbuster top-of-the-table clash with the first-placed Sydney Swans at the Gabba next Saturday afternoon.

The Demons will meanwhile look to keep their finals hopes alive when they meet the GIANTS at Wagga Wagga’s Robertson Oval on the same afternoon.

Canberra Demons v Brisbane Lions at UNSW Canberra Oval.

BRISBANE 4.5 8.8 14.10 23.15 (153)
CANBERRA 2.3 4.6 7.9 8.11 (59) 

GOALS – Brisbane: M Hammelmann 5 C Ballenden 4 A Smith 4 L Dawson 2 R Bewick J Freeman T Cutler B Grewar C Beams R Harwood M Hinge B Lambert. Canberra: J Turner 2 N Pleming 2 B Fulford 2 M Beaumont L McKay.