"It was like Federer and Nadal playing a game of tennis."
That's how Brisbane coach Chris Fagan described the see-sawing affair against Sydney that descended onto the Gabba in Round 19.
The highly-anticipated match that could be a Grand Final preview had just about everything, including a close result that saw the Lions cement their spot in the top four with five rounds to go.
Fagan's men got off to a blistering start (that appears to be a worrying trend for the Swans) before the margin was clawed back and kept in close quarters until the final siren.
The Lions have now won their past seven clashes and taken a real positive turn since their bye in Round 12, putting the fear of God into the rest of the competition.
"It was like Federer and Nadal playing a game of tennis and one team would be on top and then the other team would be," Fagan said.
"We started well then they got on top of us.
"I just like the character we showed. We talked about resilience. Funnily enough, before the game, we thought it might be a game like this and it would be an opportunity to show just that.
"It does a lot for the culture of your footy club, just that resilience to hang in there and never give up.
"Not that we've ever been a team that's given up but it just reinforces that.
"They showed an incredibly strong will to win and a strong mindset. Things hadn't gone our way since the first quarter really, so to turn it around like that is a great sign."
With Josh Dunkley and Lachie Neale relatively held to quieter performances, it was the youth of the Lions to stood up throughout the contest, inclusive of Hugh McCluggage and Cam Rayner.
Since being taken with Pick 1 in the 2017 National Draft, Rayner has been much maligned throughout his career for being a "tease".
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
However, on Sunday, he silenced the critics and his coach couldn't have been prouder.
"Just his brute strength," Fagan said in awe.
"That goal just before three-quarter time gave us a lot of hope. I think he's had two direct goal assists. He had a fair bit of the ball. He was influential at stoppage. He tackled well.
"I think we found a role for him that suits him. I won't go into what that is but we found what is Cam's sweet spot."
Fagan was initially coy about what that role looked like but clearly, it is going to be a front-half position.
"It's mostly forward with a bit of stuff in the midfield and picking the right times to do it.
"He's matured as a player. He's fitter now so he can actually get in there and has learnt how to use the brutal strength that he's got.
"That's all I'll say about that."
Brisbane's latest victory has the club sitting in third position (two points behind Carlton) with clashes against Gold Coast (away), St Kilda (away), GWS, Collingwood (away) and Essendon remaining.
