ESSENDON has overcome the loss of skipper Dyson Heppell to outlast Brisbane and win a scrappy match at the Gabba by 22 points.

Heppell was knocked out of the match midway through the second quarter after a huge clash with Luke Hodge, but despite playing a man down, the Bombers were good enough to win 12.12 (84) to 8.14 (62).

DONS IN A SCRAP Full match coverage and stats

It was their fifth victory of the season and keeps the slightest of slight hopes of playing finals alive.

The Bombers got contributions from all over the field with Zach Merrett (29 disposals) and David Myers (28) prolific in the midfield and Jake Stringer (22 and three goals) dangerous both mid and forward.

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Essendon coach John Worsfold was pleased with his team, but said they made the win more difficult than it needed to be.

"Overall, we controlled big parts of the game, (but) didn't really hurt them in that third quarter when we had the ball locked in our front half, which kept the game a bit tighter," he said.

"I was a bit concerned about how strongly we would match their run in the last quarter, but I thought the players were outstanding.

"Losing 'Hepp', who is one of our big runners in the game, meant everyone had to step up and they did very well.

"To have 65 inside 50s and hold the opposition to 45, that's a pretty good result, but we weren't as clean.

"We should have had another three or four goals in the third quarter."

For the Lions, vice-captain Harris Andrews was clearly the best player afield, finishing with 24 touches, including 12 marks, six of them contested, in an almost perfect full-back's game.

However it wasn't enough to get his team home, as Essendon was too strong despite being without its skipper for two-and-a-half quarters.

A loose ball bounced between Heppell and Hodge, and at full pace Hodge fumbled, careering into the oncoming Heppell.

The Bombers' captain wore the full brunt of the bump and was assisted from the field nursing a bloody mouth.

With no alternate play on the ball, it appeared as if Hodge's shoulder made contact with Heppell's head.

Essendon refused to buckle without its skipper, and its pressure for most of the day was outstanding, set up by a frenetic first quarter.

The Bombers led by just eight points at the first change but led the Lions by 10 in the tackle count and 12 in contested possessions, such was their ferocity around the contest.

It was the 12th straight match this season in which Brisbane had lost the opening quarter.

The match was marred by poor kicking at goal by both teams, and although Brisbane at times closed the margin over the final three terms, the Lions never really threatened.

Their day was summed up when Dan McStay missed a simple set shot from 25m out early in the final term, when the margin could have been cut to eight points, only for the Bombers to sweep the ball downfield for a Mitch Brown goal 30 seconds later.

Lions coach Chris Fagan could only shake his head at another day of missed opportunities.

"They had a lot more inside 50s, so you’ve got to give them credit for that, but at key moments in the game when it could've just got the crowd a bit more involved and people up and about, we missed critical set shots," Fagan said.

"I think we kicked 5.10 from set shots … I reckon a few of those were regulation, put-them-away shots.

"That hurts. Just closing the gap a little bit and putting pressure on the opposition."

The Bombers were just as guilty of botching their scoring opportunities, with Shaun McKernan, Stringer and Devon Smith all failing to convert easy shots in the third term.

MEDICAL ROOM

Brisbane: After losing Charlie Cameron and Mitch Robinson to injury last week, the Lions came out unscathed. Alex Witherden hobbled off in the third quarter with what looked to be a knee injury, but came back on 10 minutes later and played the game out.

Essendon: Heppell went off with concussion during the second quarter, but was fine post-match, said coach John Worsfold. "He looked all right initially, but then he did show some signs of concussion symptoms … but he looks really good now," Worsfold said. Devon Smith had ice on a calf injury post-game.

NEXT UP

Both teams now get a rest with the bye next week. Brisbane will return by hosting Greater Western Sydney at the Gabba on June 23, while Essendon will travel to Perth to play West Coast at Optus Stadium on Thursday night, June 21.

BRISBANE                   2.4   3.7    5.9     8.14 (84)
ESSENDON                 4.0   7.4    8.11   12.12 (62)          

GOALS

Brisbane: Hipwood 2, Zorko 2, Berry, McInerney, McStay, Martin
Essendon: Stringer 3, Brown 2, Heppell 2, McDonald-Tipungwuti 2, Green, Guelfi, McKernan

BEST 

Brisbane: Andrews, Rich, Gardiner, Witherden, Martin, Zorko
Essendon: Merrett, Stringer, McGrath, Myers, Smith, Saad

INJURIES 

Brisbane: Nil
Essendon: Heppell (concussion), Smith (calf)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: O’Gorman, McInerney, Wallace               

Official crowd: 20,476 at the Gabba