Brisbane young gun Eric Hipwood booted one goal at Giants Stadium but it was almost the best game of his blossoming AFL career, according to coach Chris Fagan.
Hipwood battled through the pain of a debilitating ankle injury to help the Lions upset GWS by 20 points.
The 21-year-old, fresh from a match-winning haul of five goals against Melbourne at the Gabba, hurt himself in the opening minute of Sunday's contest.
Fagan admitted Hipwood's setback almost finished his evening, but the key forward played through the pain and booted a clutch third-quarter goal after a great pack mark.
"He wanted to stick it out and he did," Fagan said.
"He made himself a target ... he got involved in some tough contests. They fell on it a few times and he just hung in there.
"To see a young forward tough it out like that was so exciting to watch. I gave him a pat on the head after the game and said 'that's nearly the best game you've played'. He laughed at me but it's true in a way.
"To become a team that can compete against the best, you've got to have guys in your team who will play through pain. He did that tonight, maybe for the first time in his career, and he did it really well."
Brisbane veteran Luke Hodge also kept playing despite a corked hip.
GWS superstars Josh Kelly (calf) and Stephen Coniglio (knee) also suffered injuries during the brutal contest.
Coniglio played out the entire game while Kelly failed to return after trudging off late in the final term.
"Cogs battled on bravely ... he's going to be a bit sore tomorrow," Giants coach Leon Cameron said.
"Josh is sore in the calf. We didn't risk him.
"He just tightened right up ... we'll know more in 24 hours."
