Melbourne was forced to fight hard in overcoming a fast-finishing Brisbane Lions side at the Gabba on Saturday night, holding on to win by 10 points.

The Demons led by 30 at the major break, but kicked only two goals in the second half and under pressure from the gutsy Lions saw their advantage shrink to within a goal minutes from the final siren, but held on to salute 11.8 (74) to 9.10 (64).

Colin Sylvia had 31 disposals and two goals for the visitors who, despite backing up their thrashing of Sydney last weekend, will be unhappy with their second-half fade.

For the beleaguered Brisbane side, Brown was typically valiant in a losing side, while Daniel Rich and Michael Rischitelli surely delivered coach Michael Voss the effort he had been calling for through the week.

Xavier Clarke's return to the AFL for the first time since 2008 was short lived, the defender had just one touch in the short moments he spent on the field before limping back to the sidelines with a game-ending hamstring injury.

The early exchanges saw Sylvia and Brad Green registering majors for the Demons and although Michael Rischitelli kicked a goal in response, the early signs were not promising for the home side.

A string of soft errors had the Lions backs conceding further points, with Wonaeamirri nabbing a major off a well executed right-foot snap to take his side to the first break with a 13-point ascendancy.

Earlier in the week Brisbane coach Michael Voss had called for Brendan Fevola to stop being singled out, but despite not getting a touch in the first quarter, the controversial forward was busy enough spilling several contested-mark opportunities and, scuffling with Colin Garland behind the play.

65-metre bombs from Stiller and Albert Proud gave their side a boost, but while the Lions were working hard, the signs were ominous as Sylvia and Dunn each kicked their second and the Demons extended their lead.

Heavy rain fell for a time and the Gabba crowd's disappointment in the umpiring was evident, but the biggest problem for the Lions was their opposition who were looking a class above in every department.

Re-entering the contest with a deficit of 30 points to make up, the Lions were once-more scrambling hard in defence and after seven goalless minutes in the third, Brisbane were given a sniff courtesy of a quickfire pair to Proud and a clever goal to Brown.

Melbourne eventually stopped the rot 16 minutes into the third frame, when Green made the best of a tight angle to nab his second of the match, after receiving some extra attention from the Lions defence.

True to form, the final term crept out to a slow start, but after five-minutes the always-dangerous Brown kicked a booming 50-meter set-shot to spark some interest into the spectators.

The momentum stayed with the home side who were coming home on a wet-sail, after Todd Banfield kicked a six-pointer with four minutes to go, Brisbane were on the edge of stealing an unlikely come-from-behind victory.

But any hopes of a comeback were quashed when Lynden Dunn scored the Demons' second goal of a poor half after an undisciplined effort from the Lions cost them a 50-metre penalty.

BRISBANE: 2.2 4.5 7.6 9.10 (64)
MELBOURNE: 4.3 9.5 10.8 11.8 (74)
GOALS: BRISBANE: Proud 3, Brown 2, Banfield, Harwood, Rischitelli, Stiller
MELBOURNE: Dunn 2, Green 2, Sylvia 2, Bail, Johnson, Morton, Wonaeamirri
BEST: BRISBANE: Rich, Rischitelli, Proud, Brown
MELBOURNE: Jones, Sylvia, Green, Dunn
INJURIES: BRISBANE: X. Clarke (hamstring), Fevola (groin)
MELBOURNE: Nil