Five minutes of scintillating, statement-making footy has kept Brisbane's three-peat hopes alive, blowing away Adelaide before some fans had even taken their seats. 

After a shock qualifying final loss to an undermanned Sydney last week, the Lions exploded out of the blocks, setting up the 53-point victory with the quickest of five-goal hauls.

The 21.18 (144) to 13.13 (91) thumping means Brisbane will now face Hawthorn at the MCG in a preliminary final next weekend, while former Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker's decorated career has come to an end after 319 matches and 715 goals.

There'll be a watch on newly minted All-Australian forward Logan Morris, who finished the game on the bench with ice on his calf.

It took just 30 seconds for Brisbane to open its account, with Kai Lohmann roaring into life after a quiet few weeks, and then Charlie Cameron dribbled truly 20 seconds later, and it was the crowd's turn to roar to life.

Fresh off signing a mega-contract and turning his back on Adelaide's overtures, Zac Bailey rubbed salt into the wound with the team's third, and the Lions were officially flying.

Brisbane had recorded 10 inside 50s for 5.2 before Adelaide managed to make it to its own attacking arc. 

All of this happened in just five minutes.

The Crows were so unsettled in the opening term, Darcy Fogarty and Josh Rachele conceded two 50m penalties for not standing the mark correctly, and the former managed to turn his into a 100m for knocking the pesky Dayne Zorko to the ground, getting sucked into making contact to the wily veteran.

Luke Nankervis added a bright spot late after the nightmare opening term with a sharp flying mark and goal, but the Lions took a 27-point lead into the first break.

Adelaide's best work and ball movement came from half-back, using speed to its advantage to cut holes, and after just two touches in the first quarter, Rachele kickstarted his side in the second.

Fogarty made up for previous errors with back-to-back goals, and incredibly, the margin was back to 10.

Josh Dunkley and Lachie Neale had tag-teamed to shut down the dangerous and in-form Izak Rankine, and unsurprisingly, the Crows managed to work their way back into the match when he found a rare bit of room, but was quickly squashed again and rarely sighted for the rest of the game.

But the Lions – driven by a doubling in contested possessions in the second term – had just had far too many quick and firing options in attack for Adelaide to shut down, with Lohmann, Cam Rayner, Bailey and even Eric Hipwood causing havoc, while Cameron had 4.3 before the main break.

The Crows threw former Lion Cal Ah Chee behind the ball at the start of the third term, which stemmed the flow of goals somewhat, but the Lions just found even more inventive ways to score, including a stunning set shot snap from Morris, and Zorko celebrating hard after a major outside 50.

With his side trailing by an even 10 goals, Matthew Nicks moved down to coach from the bench for the final term, which saw Walker boot two bombs for old times' sake, and a very professional Darcy Wilmot spoiling the club champion's marking attempt for a third in the final seconds.

Sam Berry (31 disposals, six clearances) and Jordan Dawson (30, eight tackles) battled hard in the midfield for the Crows, while Will Ashcroft (30, six clearances) put in a strong four-quarter performance, and Dunkley's strength in the contest was key.

The perfect start

By the time Cam Rayner had kicked his side's fifth goal, the Lions had recorded just 26 disposals – five touches per major. It had taken seven minutes and 13 seconds, which is the fastest first five goals this century. Most importantly, the players who hit the scoreboard were among those who badly struggled last week, including Lohmann, Cameron, Bailey and winger Hugh McCluggage. The Lions had jumped out to a 32-point lead by the time Dan Curtain managed to stop the rot, kicking truly halfway through the quarter.

Missing Crows

It was a dirty night to forget for a number of Adelaide players, barely sighted over the four quarters as the experienced finals campaigners flexed their muscle. Halfway through the fourth term, Josh Rachele was still stranded on five touches, as was Taylor Walker, while Ben Keays and Jake Soligo were flat while the game was in the balance. Wayne Milera's 19 disposals look respectable, but Conor McKenna muted his impact and drive, and Josh Worrell wasn't able to intercept nearly as effectively as last week.

BRISBANE     6.6     10.12     16.15     21.18     (144)
ADELAIDE         2.3     5.4     7.9     13.13     (91)

GOALS
Brisbane: Cameron 5, Bailey 3, Lohmann 2, Morris 2, Rayner 2, Hipwood 2, McCluggage 2, Zorko, McKenna, L. Ashcroft
Adelaide: Fogarty 2, Thilthorpe 2, Walker 2, Keays 2, Curtin, Nankervis, Rachele, Milera, Neal-Bullen

BEST
Brisbane: W.Ashcroft, Bailey, Zorko, Dunkley, Rayner, Cameron 
Adelaide: Dawson, Berry, Curtain, Hall-Kahan, Taylor

INJURIES
Brisbane: Morris (calf)
Adelaide: Nil

Crowd: 36,026 at the Gabba