Just one attempt was needed for rookie Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss to achieve what his mentor Leigh Matthews couldn't in four years - a win over Sydney.

The Lions soaked up miserable conditions to hold on to a 33-point victory at the Gabba on Saturday night - their first over the Swans since round one, 2004.

Lions skipper Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw booted four goals each to inspire the 15.10 (100) to 9.13 (67) win in front of a sodden 24,984-strong Gabba crowd.

The last time the two sides clashed the Swans extended their dominant run - but also inadvertently marked the end of an era at the Lions.

Little did anyone know at the time but the 61-point, round 22 hiding last season was Matthews' last game at the helm for the Lions.

Matthews later surprised everyone when he decided to walk away with a year left on his contract following the 2008 season, ending a remarkable 10-season stint at Brisbane.

While their last clash with the Swans drew the curtain on Matthews' career at the Lions, their encounter on Saturday night may yet have kick-started a new era under Voss.

Indeed the Lions' gutsy display in shocking weather against one of the AFL's powerhouses showed they can be a force in 2009.

Sydney gave themselves every chance of extending their streak against the Lions when key forward Barry Hall (groin) was passed fit ahead of the match.

He led the way for the Swans with three majors.

After grabbing a 20-point lead at the first break, the Lions defied the slippery conditions to kick ahead of the Swans 10.6 (66) to 4.5 (29) by halftime.

At one stage the hosts enjoyed a 43-point buffer early in the third but appeared to clock off just as the Swans tried to claw their way back.

A scrapping Sydney managed to reduce the damage to 12.9 (81) to 7.10 (52) by the final break.

Before the game Voss admitted he wanted his team to emulate the never say die attitude of the Swans.

But the rookie coach hoped that his side had put their own stamp on the game following Saturday night's impressive display.

"We respect Sydney a lot, and we want to play that way," he said.

"But whether we are playing like Sydney or not, I don't know.

"Tonight was the way the Brisbane Lions want to play."

There were some standout individual efforts for the Lions on Saturday night - Joel Patfull shut down dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes and Justin Sherman was busy while kicking three majors.

But Voss rated it "the best team effort we have had".

"It's a new fresh start, new coach and a new style so it was very pleasing to see everyone gel together and do their part, and not rely on any one individual," Voss said.

"And that's what it was going to take to beat a team like Sydney."

The only headache for Voss was a knee injury to ruckman Matthew Leuenberger that is expected to sideline him for "a couple of weeks".

Meanwhile, Swans coach Paul Roos was disappointed his side could not back up from their impressive last round upset of Hawthorn.

"This season we have already seen teams that tackle really well and put pressure on opposition are teams that are going to be successful in '09," he said.

"Brisbane were really good in that area tonight.

"That's really where the game was won or lost, just the pressure they put on us."

The Swans also had their injury problems after Jared Crouch limped off with a hamstring complaint.

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