Hawthorn has won one of the games of the season and extended its perfect start to 2008 with a 12-point win over Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night.

The Hawks prevailed 19.16 (130) to the Lions 17.16 (118) for their first win at Brisbane's home ground since Round 8, 2000.

Lance Franklin's eight-goal haul led the way for the victors, with superb supply from a midfield led by Brad Sewell (27 disposals), veteran Shane Crawford (28) and skipper Sam Mitchell (32).

Daniel Bradshaw's impressive return from injury continued as he drilled seven for the Lions. Usual suspects Luke Power, in his 200th game, and Simon Black were among the better players for Brisbane.

The loss could have disastrous repercussions for the Lions with skipper Jonathon Brown's quiet match further soured when he went on report in the second quarter for charging Mitchell.

While it was Franklin's night, his accomplished sidekick Jarryd Roughead kicked the first goal and set in motion a free-flowing opening punctuated by passages of brilliance from key forwards at both ends.

Glamour boy Franklin - with Daniel Merrett for company - bagged two first-quarter goals, but could easily have had four in the initial half hour had it not been for a wonky radar.

Franklin's second goal, after a typically powerful mark against two defenders, was enough to put the visitors ahead late in the first term.

Ashley McGrath, though, converted a set shot to wrest back the advantage in the dying stages and the Lions took a four-point buffer into the first break.

Hawthorn's most experienced campaigner Crawford and Mitchell combined for 20 possessions in the first quarter, making up for a lack of input from Luke Hodge and Chance Bateman.

Hodge, opposed to Troy Selwood, went without a touch in the first quarter and was beaten on the night while Justin Sherman held in-form midfielder Bateman.

The second stanza - an equally entertaining affair as the first - was stained only by the report of Brown.

The rugged Brisbane man went into the book for his late contact on Mitchell after the Hawks skipper had marked 50 metres from goal.

Mitchell got to his feet quickly and was able to pop through the simplest of goals after receiving a 50-metre penalty for the hit.

The back-and-forth nature of the contest continued when Colm Begley answered on his left.

Franklin's third - with 2007's least-benched player, his opponent Merrett, watching from the dugout - stretched his side's lead to eight