Sydney notched their biggest win of the AFL season on Saturday night and in the process gave Brisbane coach Michael Voss a brutal reality check.

The Swans piled 12 unanswered goals across the first and second quarters, with Adam Goodes and Ryan O'Keefe the principal architects, to cruise to a 17.14 (116) to 7.9 (51) win at the Gabba.

Goodes not only kicked the opening goal, but had a direct hand in several others and was too classy and strong for Lions defender Joel Patfull.

O'Keefe's work rate was second to none and he had three different opponents in the first term alone.

To be fair to Patfull, he was one of a number of Lions found wanting, especially in the first quarter when Brisbane were insipid.

They weren't much better in the second quarter either.

The Lions had only two forward 50m entries - which is one of, if not, the lowest ever since records were kept, for the first quarter.

Half a dozen players failed to gain a kick in the opening term, another five only had one kick and the side failed to collect a free.

By halftime, the Swans led by 72 points and were eyeing their biggest ever victory against the Lions.

The Swans can take the credit for inflicting such pain.

Their defence double and triple-teamed Brisbane's match-winning captain Jonathan Brown, which had a poisonous effect on the Lions' scoring opportunities and they also won the battle at ground level.

Swans forwards Trent Dennis-Lane and Lewis Roberts-Thomson were solid targets.

Brisbane gained some respectability - albeit way too late and inconsequential when they won the second half.

The loss will rock the Lions, in particular Voss, who has declared he wants his contract, which ends this season, renewed.

His side lost its first seven matches then notched wins against North Melbourne and Adelaide, before capitulating to the Swans to undo much of the good work and respect built in the previous two weeks.

Sydney on the other hand should be genuinely feared.

They moved the ball swiftly and with precision and could easily have inflicted even more scoreboard pain had they not frittered away set shots in the opening half.

Voss said he felt helpless in the first half and there were few positional moves he could pull to halt the goal spree.

"We were just outplayed and we couldn't get the ball," he said.

"Our contested ball, inside 50s, I mean it was red all over.

"There were no real stats in our favour and we were completely dominated by a team."

He said they may have "won" the second half but acknowledged that was a hollow point given how far they were behind.

Swans coach John Longmire said it was possibly the best half of football his side has played this season.

"From the first bounce we played a very good standard of footy," Longmire said.

"We got off to a good start and things just flowed from there.

"It was our most pleasing for the majority of the game we did it pretty well."

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