A loss to Hawthorn was Brisbane's wake up call but coach Chris Fagan admits the two casualties that followed may have "put everyone on edge a little bit" too.
The Lions found another gear on Thursday to blitz an understaffed Richmond by 81 points at the Gabba.
Joe Daniher booted five goals and the host's vaunted midfield dominated to keep the Lions (11-4) in touch with the AFL's top two.
But it was the defence of Keidean Coleman, Darcy Wilmot, Conor McKenna, and Brandon Starcevich that set the tone in a performance Fagan has been searching for.
"(They) all played well; lots of metres gained, lots of overlap, which is one of the reasons we were able to take so many marks inside 50 because we got it in open situations," the coach said.
Brisbane were run down in a shock loss to Hawthorn earlier this month.
Veterans Daniel Rich and Jack Gunston have not featured since after a heart-to-heart with Fagan in which the coach claimed they told him their form didn't warrant selection.
After Thursday's loss Fagan stressed the pair hadn't "demoted themselves" but said their absence may have also jolted the team into gear in wins against Sydney, St Kilda and the Tigers since.
"Maybe opening up the team for others to have an opportunity has been motivational and maybe it's put everyone on edge a little bit," Fagan said of the selection that's seen the veteran pair enter a training block.
"Two really good players that have had great AFL careers not currently in the team.
"It's hard to know, but I don't feel like that's sparked this, I think we've just been building our form.
"And the Hawthorn game made us really disappointed in ourselves and woke everybody up."
Former captain Dayne Zorko is also fit but was given an extra week to recover from a calf injury and could slot back in to face West Coast on Saturday.
But, thanks to the form of Brisbane's new-look back six, the route back to the AFL for defender Rich looms as a scenic one.
"I'm pretty sure Daniel Rich won't mind the fact he'll have to force his way back into the team," Fagan said.
"Maybe he'll have to come through the reserves, but that's okay, you need that competition in teams.
"He's a great team man and he'll understand that."
