We were here last Friday writing about the Brisbane Lions after a statement Thursday night win over the Swans.

Well, that’s the case again after the back-to-back champs went to the Cattery and knocked off Geelong by 22 points to kick off Round 17.

There’s always been an element of danger about the Lions, even after some average form. This side is way too good just to fizzle out of contention.

Instead, Chris Fagan has razzed them up to a point where they’re now sitting in the top four. That might only be momentarily but you get the drift.

They’ve bounced back in a massive way following their mid-season bye and are now nicely set up for a three-peat assault.

Last week we commended Will and Levi Ashcroft, Lachie Neale, Zac Bailey, Josh Dunkley and Cam Rayner.

That group of six were excellent again this week and the likes of Kai Lohmann, with an equal career-best five goals, ruck recruit Sam Draper and Logan Morris came along for the ride.

If Brissie can do what they’ve done to the second-placed Swans and the Cats, who started the round in fourth, then rivals should be seriously worried.

SEN’s David King reckons that the Lions, who were once meandering, are menacing now that September is in sight.

“An eight-goal first quarter with 10 entries and then an eight-goal third quarter - not many do that to Geelong in Geelong,” King said on SEN’s Fireball.

“We were concerned for them, we were checking signs of life at about Round 10. They looked like they were just going, they were meandering, they weren’t really invested.

“Maybe now they can see the finish line, and they’re just gearing, their key playmakers are just in elite form again.

“They’re just great to watch. From a pure spectacle point of view, the way they play is so attractive on the eye.”

Kane Cornes was taken by their supremely talented attacking group and gun midfield which is arguably the league's best.

“They just got so much talent in their forward half that they can make you look foolish at times," he said.

“Charlie Cameron looked dangerous, you get five from Lohmann, their smalls are getting back into form, Logan Morris does his thing.

“Their midfield is a problem, it’s the best midfield in the competition. The numbers say they’re the best centre-bounce clearance team in the comp.

“When you’re winning that, winning territory and you have that much talent in the forward half of the ground then look out.”

Essendon (18th), West Coast (16th), Port Adelaide (15th) and Carlton (12th, but winning) in the next four to fine tune their game, before stern tests against Hawthorn, Gold Coast and Collingwood ahead of ANOTHER September campaign.

You’d back the Lions to win at least five of their next seven which would give them 15 wins and a possible double chance.

As for the Cats, they were ok last night if you count out the diabolical first quarter.

There was merit in the way they fought back but if you concede eight goals in the opening term, and then again in the third, then it’s rarely going to end well.

Should Cats fans be worried? That’s four losses from their last five…

However, they do have a fairly handy run home and you’d have to be a pretty brave person to write off Chris Scott and Patrick Dangerfield, especially when five-goal Danger can still walk the walk.

Andrew Slevison