The Crows overcame the loss of two players in the first half to hang on for a seven-point win, 15.14 (104) to 13.19 (97).
Chris Knights (hamstring) and Bernie Vince (knee) were both taken from the field before half-time and didn’t return.
On a warm Brisbane afternoon the teams were locked together going into the final quarter, and it was only a Nathan van Berlo set shot in the final two minutes that sealed the win.
For the Lions, Mitch Clark stood tall in the absence of skipper Jonathan Brown, kicking five goals and having the better of his duel with Ben Rutten, while Simon Black and Tom Rockliff (27 possessions each) both worked hard.
But it was a case of wasted chance for the hosts, who had the better of the first half but squandered it with a number of costly misses - Daniel Rich finished with four behinds and Michael Rischitelli three as they sprayed a number of easy shots.
Kurt Tippett was a colossus in the Crows’ forward line, kicking 5.4 and giving fellow Gold Coast native Daniel Merrett a hiding.
Tippett took five contested marks and only poor kicking - including a miss from 15m out directly in front - prevented him from collecting a bigger haul, with Richard Douglas also in the running for best-on-ground honours, booting two goals and finishing with 31 touches and 10 marks.
Jason Porplyzia bagged three first half goals, while Graham Johncock gave enormous run from the back.
In a topsy-turvy game, the Lions burst from the blocks to lead by 21 points early in the second term.
They were playing-on, showing flair and looking the goods, before Tippett and Porplyzia turned the tide almost on their own.
The visitors kicked seven goals to two in the quarter and extended their lead to 22 during the third.
Adelaide controlled the midfield and began to even out a lopsided possession count and despite the loss of Knights and Vince, appeared to have the fresher legs.
But with five of the last six goals going to the final change, the Lions looked to have arrested the momentum.
Brisbane Lions: 4.7 6.12 12.14 13.19 (97)
Adelaide: 2.4 9.5 13.8 15.14 (104)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Clark 5, Banfield, Black, Hanley, Harwood, Patfull, Pokinghorne, Power, Staker
Adelaide: Tippett 5, Porplyzia 3, Douglas 2, Henderson 2, Davis, van Berlo, Sellar
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Clark, Black, Rockliff, Stiller, McGrath
Adelaide: Tippett, Douglas, Symes, van Berlo, Porplyzia, Johncock
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: nil
Adelaide: Vince (knee), Knights (hamstring)
Reports: nil
Umpires: Farmer, Ryan, Jennings
Official crowd: 25,403 at the Gabba
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
