Western Bulldogs have overcome an injury to skipper Easton Wood to edge past Brisbane by 14 points and move into the AFL top eight.
After enjoying a 28-point lead at Saturday's first break, the Bulldogs were 11 points down at three-quarter time but battled back to win 14.19 (103) to 13.11 (89) in front of 16,148 fans at the Gabba. Marcus Bontempelli, who was as culpable as anyone for kicking inaccuracy, booted two majors in the final term to help the Bulldogs to victory over the Lions.
Early on, it seemed like the Bulldogs would romp to a win as a tame Chris Fagan side slipped 6.6 (42) to 2.2 (14) behind.
Despite losing the clearance battle 45-30 and the inside-50 count 64-37, the Lions dominated the scoring in the middle quarters. A big contributing factor to the Lions' 23 scoring shots from their meagre inside-50 total was the absence of the Bulldogs premiership captain Wood. He limped off the ground with a hamstring injury midway through the first quarter after a tackle from Jarrod Berry.
"It's probably more likely that it's a bad one than a two-or-three week (injury), I'd say," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said of Wood's injury. "We can't confirm anything. They always scan them and we'll give more (information) during the week, but it appears he's hurt it really badly."
The Lions took the lead in the third quarter as Lewis Taylor came to the fore creating one goal for Tom Rockliff and then kicking one from 50 metres. Daniel Rich's big boot from outside the 50, after a handball from Berry on the mark, gave the hosts an 11-point lead going into the final term, but it was to prove in vain.
"We had chances in the last quarter and just didn't have the composure to take our chances and keep the scoreboard pressure on and they were able to," Lions coach Chris Fagan said. "We're getting closer to beating one of the big teams. It will come. I don't know whether to feel happy or unhappy."
With their season on the line, the defending champions rallied in the final quarter, with Jack Redpath and Liam Picken kicking their third goals of the game.