Brisbane has secured their place in the top-two of the AFLW ladder, after downing Fremantle by seven points at a saturated South Pine Sports Complex.
The Lions now sit a game clear in second position, joining the Western Bulldogs who have also begun their season 3-1 following their 73-point smashing of Carlton on Friday night.
With Brisbane enduring over a month's worth of rain in the past two days, conditions were always going to be less-than-ideal.
The unfavourable weather was further exacerbated by the 26 degree weather and 82 per cent humidity, resulting in the heat policy coming into effect (in which an extra 30 seconds are added to the quarterly breaks and another 90 seconds for half time).
Upon taking the to the field, the extent of the drenching was evident and affected the gameplay from the onset.
The heavy ball and wet weather dictated a strict body-on-body approach, resulting in tight and contested football in the first quarter.
Fremantle managed to lock the ball in their forward 50 for most of the quarter, but failed to capitalise on the scoreboard from their 10 inside 50s, with a single minor score coming off the boot of Gabby O'Sullivan.
It was a lucky break for the Lions, who despite the poor conditions were sloppy out of defence and were unable to pick out targets thanks to their hastiness.
Come the second quarter, soccer skills were on display at the sodden South Pine, and it turned out to be on several occasions the best way to move the ball forward.
Jess Wuetschner proved it better than anyone, masterfully booting the first of the game off the ground after receiving a soccer-like pass from teammate Sabrina Frederick-Traub.
While the play opened up more, moving forward was still an issue for both teams.
The Dockers broke free of the congestion several times, their efforts went unrewarded with only Emily McGuire impacting the scoreboard with a behind.
Goals were few and far between them, but with the rain somewhat relenting in the third quarter the Dockers and Lions were able to convert.
A snap from 50m out from Brittany Gibson gave the Lions their second, but the margin was brought back to five points after Stacey Barr kicked an easy goal with just over a minute left on the clock.
With the heavy ball and wet weather still difficult to control, soccering off the ground again proved to be effective in gaining ground.
But the tactic nearly went against the Lions.
Hearts were in mouths after Jamie Stanton hyper-extended her left knee in a sickening collision after she attempted to kick the ball off the ground.
After the season-ending knee injuries to Brianna Davey and Isabel Huntington, it was almost impossible to not assume the worst had also been inflicted upon Stanton.
Thankfully, Stanton returned to the field in the final quarter and guided her side to victory.
Wuetschner again put her soccer prowess to use, with a sliding kick through the big sticks after a Tahlia Randall torpedo sailed over the heads of four Fremantle defenders and landed right at her feet.
One last roll of the dice from the Dockers narrowed the margin yet again courtesy of a goal from Ashlee Atkins, but it was too little, too late, as Brisbane emerged winners by seven points.
Brisbane's grit in the poor conditions not only cemented their place in the top two, but emphasised their determination coming toward to atone for their Grand Final loss last year.
All eyes will be on the Lions as they come in against the hot premiership favourites in Melbourne, while the Dockers will face the steely Giants at home.
BRISBANE 0.0 1.1 2.2 3.4 (22)
FREMANTLE 0.1 0.2 1.3 2.3 (15)
GOALS
Brisbane: Wuetschner 2, Gibson
Fremantle: Barr, Atkins
BEST
Brisbane: Wuetschner, Lutkins, Anderson
Fremantle: Filocamo, Donnellan, Atkins
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