It was a thrilling finish to a relatively unexciting game, with the Lions cutting an 18-point deficit to three points with just under three minutes remaining.
As the clock wound down, the Lions had a chance to hit the front when Jack Redden was handed a 50m penalty after Alwyn Davey incorrectly returned the ball on the wing.
The young midfielder took his shot at goal with 18 seconds remaining, but kicked a behind. Essendon then maintained possession to win 0.9.13 (67) to 1.7.14 (65).
But the win could prove costly with key midfielder Mark McVeigh hurting his ankle in the second term.
The experienced ball-winner went over in the centre square midway through the quarter and assisted from the field. He was later seen wearing a protective ‘moon boot’ as he watched the game from the bench.
On a positive note, Jason Winderlich, Scott Lucas and Davey made successful returns from injury, with Winderlich the Bombers' highest ball-getter with 24 touches in his first game since round 11 last year.
Hayden Skipworth put in another strong performance for his new club, while David Hille was important and Andrew Lovett kicked two goals.
It was a strong Essendon side missing Andrew Welsh, Bachar Houli and Nathan Lovett-Murray, while the Lions were without a host of stars including Jonathan Brown, Luke Power, Simon Black, Jared Brennan, Jamie Charman, Daniel Merrett, Travis Johnstone and Michael Rischitelli.
Essendon failed to capitalise on its opening term domination of the ruck, with the Lions working hard at ground level to win almost as many clearances.
In the scrappy quarter, Essendon got as far as 10 points clear after Jay Neagle and Heath Hocking snared the first two goals, but the Lions remained in touch when Scott Harding kicked a super goal after a Dustin Fletcher 50m penalty.
Inaccurate kicking plagued both sides but a goal to Angus Monfries gave his side a seven-point lead at quarter-time.
It was a low-scoring second quarter with just a goal apiece registered. Daniel Bradshaw was the only Lions' goalscorer for the quarter, putting his side within two points midway through the term, but a reply from Skipworth after the Bombers won the next centre clearance negated it.
Hille had three chances to put his side well in front for the second half but contributed three behinds, which left the Bombers' halftime advantage at 11 points.
The intensity increased in the third as both sides fought to break the game out of a frustrating stalemate.
The Bombers got as far as 19 points clear after David Myers goaled, but the Lions suddenly woke from their slumber and began to score.
An Ashley McGrath goal sparked Bradshaw into action to kick an unanswered pair of majors, and the Lions entered the final term just a point behind.
The Lions lost ruckman Matthew Leuenberger to a knee injury in the third, which further compromised their big man problem, and a missed opportunity to Bradshaw in the opening stages of the fourth didn't help.
It was a thrilling final term that followed as the Lions chipped away at Essendon's lead, but the Bombers were holding both the ball and a two-point advantage when the siren rang.
Essendon now plays Collingwood at Telstra Dome next Friday while the Lions will face Melbourne in the NAB Challenge Series in Cairns.
Essendon 0.3.2 0.4.7 0.6.10 0.9.13 (67)
Brisbane Lions 1.0.4 1.1.5 1.5.6 1.7.14 (65)
GOALS
Essendon: Nine-point goals: Nil Goals: Lovett 2, Neagle, Hocking, Monfries, Skipworth, Jetta, Myers, Hille
Brisbane Lions: Nine-point goals: Harding Goals: Bradshaw 3, Clark 2, Sherman, McGrath
BEST
Essendon: Skipworth, Hille, Lovett, Winderlich, Watson, Lloyd, Lonergan
Brisbane Lions: Drummond, Dalziell, Bradshaw, McGrath, McDonald, Adcock
INJURIES
Essendon: McVeigh (ankle)
Brisbane Lions: Leuenberger (knee)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Jeffery, Findlay
Crowd: 12,260 at Telstra Dome
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
