The Adelaide Crows have a week to reflect, regroup and recover from a mauling by reigning premiers Brisbane Lions in Saturday night’s second qualifying final at the Gabba.

After starting brightly, the Crows were overwhelmed by the Lions, who cruised to a 71-point victory.

Adelaide had few winners but was well served by Mark Ricciuto, Kane Johnson, Chris Ladhams and Simon Goodwin.

Only goals by Nathan Bassett and Brett Burton late in the final quarter enabled the Crows to overtake their lowest AFL score of 4.7 (31), a mark established against St Kilda in Adelaide’s first season back in 1991.

For Adelaide coach Gary Ayres, the game was a nightmare.

“It’s probably our worst performance for the year,” Ayres said of his team.

“We obviously played in a manner that was certainly lacking the things that have made us an improved team, I think that’s fairly obvious.

"We’ve come up against a side that probably because of their physical strength, the conditions probably suited them as well.

"But having said that it’s totally unacceptable from my point of view and I told that to the players.”

Brisbane was keyed by brilliant performances by Shaun Hart, who dominated his clash with fellow Norm Smith medallist Andrew McLeod, and Alastair Lynch, who finished with seven goals.

Adelaide kicked the first goal of the match, but then watched on as the Lions nailed the next eight to set up an unassailable 40-point lead at half-time.

The Lions’ midfield and defence gave the beleaguered Crows no time on the ball, and provided constant forays into the attacking 50.

After being harassed by the Crows in their last meeting, Brisbane was determined to stamp its physical authority on the contest and succeeded in spades. The Lions out-tackled Adelaide by a 70-46 margin, a statistic that summed up their win.

The Lions suffered a setback prior to the game with Beau McDonald forced out with a groin injury.

Andrew Crowell gave Adelaide the perfect start, opening the scoring with a goal after four minutes as the Crows settled into their rhythm quickly.

But the Lions seized control after Chris Johnson put them on the scoreboard after 10 minutes, extinguishing any hopes that the visitors harboured of springing the second finals upset of the weekend.

Des Headland followed quickly and then the crowd was treated to a moment of history as Lynch booted his 500th AFL goal.

Lynch’s first goal came after Lions skipper Michael Voss fell heavily in a marking contest. Voss’ head made contact with the turf and he was forced temporarily from the field, allowing Lynch to step forward to take the kick.

Lynch kicked another and set up Craig McRae for a snapped goal to give the Lions a commanding 27-point lead at quarter time.

Any hope that Adelaide had of coming back evaporated in the first part of the second term, as the Lions' defence proved impenetrable and Lynch, with two more goals, and Lappin gave Brisbane its match-winning edge.

Smart gave the visiting Crows fans their first joy since Crowell’s goal when he snapped truly just before the half-time siren, but it was a buoyant Brisbane that went to the locker room with the lead and with one foot in a home preliminary final.

Needing quick goals in the third term, the Crows watched as Brisbane slammed on 5.3 to 0.4. Crows star McLeod was taken from the field half-way through the quarter with only six possessions to his name.

Adelaide will travel east to take on the winner of the Melbourne-Kangaroos contest at the MCG in a knock-out semi-final next weekend.

Details

BRISBANE: 5.3, 8.9, 13.11, 17.13 (115)
ADELAIDE: 1.4, 2.5, 2.9, 5.14 (44)

GOALS: Brisbane: Lynch 7, Hart 2, Headland, Johnson, McRae, Notting, Brown, Lappin, White, Akermanis 1.
Adelaide: Crowell, Smart, Ricciuto, Bassett, Burton 1.
BEST:Brisbane: Black, Akermanis, Lappin, Lynch, Brown, Hart, Leppitsch, Headland.
Adelaide: Johnson, Ricciuto, Ladhams, Goodwin, Edwards.
INJURIES: Brisbane: Power (hand), C Scott (hamstring),
Adelaide: Ladhams (arm)
CHANGES: McDonald (Brisbane) replaced in selected team by Keating.
REPORTS: none
UMPIRES: Coates, Kennedy, Morris
CROWD: 31,854 at the Gabba.