Brisbane is showing signs of the battle fatigue that derailed the AFL's last powerhouse team.

Next weekend's mid-season break will be a godsend for the Lions, who looked inept at home as West Coast upset the two-time defending premier by 69 points.

The 24.16 (160) to 13.13 (91) defeat followed last weekend's five-point loss to St Kilda at Telstra Dome and meant the Lions dropped from top to third behind Port Adelaide and the Eagles.

It was the first time in two years that Brisbane had lost successive matches.

Back then, Carlton thumped the Lions by 74 points in round eight and Adelaide beat the Lions the following week by five points at the `Gabba.

They turned out to be the Lions' last losses for the season, with Brisbane eventually beating Essendon for its first premiership.

That grand final marked a transition of power in the league.

Essendon lost only one game on the way to the 2000 flag, but every opponent made sure it was "up" against the Bombers through 2001 and this slowly took its toll.

Like Brisbane now, Essendon's strength was sapped by injury.

The Lions were without captain Michael Voss and fellow premiership players Chris Scott and Beau McDonald for Sunday's match, while Jason Akermanis and Shaun Hart ended the day with hamstring concerns.

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