The 10.10 (70) to 9.11 (65) win was sealed by Lions’ skipper Jonathan Brown, who out-muscled and out-marked Mitch Brown with less than 10 seconds remaining.
The Lions second win in 15 games leaves West Coast two games clear at the bottom of the ladder with three games left.
The visitors kicked just three goals after half time - and Brown’s sealer was the Lions’ only goal of the final term - but they prevailed despite being outplayed in the second half.
It was a thrilling final quarter, memorable not for its class but for the desperation of two sides fighting to avoid a last-placed finish.
The Eagles had slowly worked their way back from a 27-point deficit and took the lead when Andrew Strijk kicked the Eagles’ only goal of the last term after 15 minutes.
But despite a host of desperate efforts from the likes of Brett Jones, Dean Cox and Koby Stevens, the Eagles gave up what would have been win to savour at the last hurdle.
Scott Selwood (28 possessions and a goal) shone, while Dean Cox bounced back to form with 22 possessions in a hard-working performance.
It wasn’t a pretty game, and the 32,587 fans needed no reminding it was 15th versus 16th in the first quarter as both sides turned the ball over continually.
The Lions went into attack more often but fell down in front of goal, with Brennan and Brown combining for a rare piece of clean play to produce the visitors’ first goal after 20 minutes.
They went into the first break two points down, despite being the better side, but Brown took hold of the second term as the Lions ran harder and started winning clean possession in space.
The skipper kicked three goals for the quarter inspiring a five-goal run and opening up a 27-point break.
Young Eagle Stevens, who was a late replacement for defender Beau Waters (illness), kicked his first AFL goal late in the term, but there was little else for the Eagles to hang their hats on.
Forwards Josh Kennedy, LeCras and Ben McKinley couldn’t get into the game, sharing four marks between them and just one goal, and the tackle count (42-24) was a major concern.
The Eagles turned that around in the second half, and appeared set for a hard-fought win before Brown booted a captain’s goal.
Next week West Coast travels to AAMI Stadium to face Port Adelaide.
West Coast 2.2 4.5 8.6 9.11 (65)
Brisbane Lions 1.3 7.5 9.7 10.10 (70)
GOALS
West Coast: LeCras 2, Strijk, Sheppard, Embley, Selwood, Stevens, Lynch, Priddis
Brisbane Lions: Brown 5, Harwood, Hanley, Rockliff, Brennan, Banfield
BEST
West Coast: S Selwood, Priddis, Strijk, McGinnity, Cox, Smith
Brisbane Lions: Rischitelli, Brennan, Black, McGrath, Brown, Staker
INJURIES
West Coast: Beau Waters (illness) replaced in selected side by Koby Stevens
Brisbane Lions: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Armstrong, Keating
Official crowd: 32,587 at Subiaco Oval
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
