Brisbane have shoved the North Melbourne blueprint for AFL success down the Kangaroos' throats with a 75-point mauling in the Adelaide Hills.
Star Lions midfielder Lachie Neale, key forwards Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood and goalsneak Charlie Cameron all ran amuck on Saturday afternoon at Mt Barker in the 22.20 (152) to 12.5 (77) cakewalk.
It is Brisbane's highest score since round three last season, when they also thrashed North, and the first time this year they have enjoyed consecutive wins.
For North, it was a brutal reminder of the extent of what is needed as they rebuild under Alastair Clarkson.
The Kangaroos had been solid this season with two wins and two hard-fought losses, but Gather Round brought an unravelling of their game.
"I said to the players after the game, where Brisbane are now is where we want to be," Clarkson said.
"Where they were four or five years ago is where we are now."
Adding to a grim afternoon, North co-captain Jy Simpkin was subbed out at halftime with a suspected broken hand.
"It doesn't look good for us," Clarkson said.
For Brisbane coach Chris Fagan, the big win was a further step forward after a bad round-one loss to Port Adelaide and some building of form since.
"It does a lot for confidence and the best teams are the most connected teams. Our boys are a really close group and they played that way today, which was exciting to watch," he said.
"It is only early days, but good signs."
Neale racked up 37 disposals, while Daniher kicked five goals - including a second-term bomb from inside the centre square.
Hipwood kicked four goals and Cameron also contributed four after halftime.
For Cameron, his excellent game came after a week where he was among several AFL players who suffered online racism.
North started well enough, leading by three goals in the first term, but scores were level at the first change and the Lions had the game under control with a 23-point lead at halftime.
Then they cut loose, kicking seven goals to two in the third term.
Clarkson was left rueing Brisbane's ability to intercept their handballs and force turnovers through the midfield.
"It was probably, all day, the ease with which they got goals out the back," he said.
"It ends up just breaking your spirit a little bit, at different stages."
The big score gave the Lions a much-needed percentage boost and surprised Fagan, given the windy conditions.
Fagan and Clarkson heaped praise on the ground, which was a paddock only a couple of years ago.
It was another success in Gather Round, with the sellout crowd of 7329 enjoying the country footy atmosphere.
