From Mick Conlan’s famous goal in the dying seconds of the 1986 Elimination Final which handed Fitzroy a one-point victory over the Bombers, to the Bears’ one-point Qualifying Final triumph over Essendon at the Gabba - there’s been no shortage of epic clashes between the two sides.
And the past decade has been no exception to this rule.
The Lions and Bombers have continued their rivalry in modern times which was largely fuelled by the historic 2001 Grand Final.
As the Lions prepare to face Essendon once again this Saturday night at the Gabba, we take a look back at some of the Club’s more memorable meetings with the Bombers over the past ten years.
2001: Round 10 @ The Gabba
Brisbane Lions 15.12 (102) def Essendon 10.14 (74)
Fresh from winning the 2000 AFL premiership, many believed Essendon were close to invincible. But Lions Coach Leigh Matthews suggested otherwise.
Using the now-famous “if it bleeds, you can kill it” line from the Arnold Schwarzenegger action flick ‘Predator’, Matthews helped inspire the Lions to an upset 28-point win over the ‘unbeatables’ at the Gabba.
Alastair Lynch and Jonathan Brown led the way with four goals and three goals respectively while Nigel Lappin, Michael Voss and Simon Black controlled the midfield.
The win gave the Lions the confidence they needed to produce what ended up being a simply remarkable season.
2001: Grand Final @ The MCG
Brisbane Lions 15.18 (108) def Essendon 12.10 (82)
The Lions had won 15 straight matches heading into the 2001 Grand Final, yet were still considered rank underdogs to dethrone the Bombers.
But a powerful second half helped the Lions on their way to an historic 26-point victory. It was the first time that the AFL premiership cup had headed to Queensland and sparked what would become one of the most successful dynasties in modern-day football.
Luke Power led all Lions scorers with three goals and Brad Scott did a wonderful job in blanketing dangerous Essendon Captain James Hird. But Shaun Hart proved the hero with 23 disposals - and countless acts of selfless bravery - which earned him the Norm Smith Medal.
2002: Round 3 @ The Gabba
Brisbane Lions 17.15 (117) def Essendon 9.13 (67)
Essendon were seeking revenge in the 2001 Grand Final replay at the Gabba, but proved no match for the Lions who ran out comfortable 50-point winners.
With Alastair Lynch and Jonathan Brown well held, Daniel Bradshaw lifted with a game-high six goals while reigning Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis was near unstoppable with 23 touches and four goals.
It was further proof that 2001 was no fluke and that the Bombers no longer held a mental edge over the Lions.
2004: Round 12 @ Etihad Stadium
Brisbane Lions 25.12 (162) def Essendon 14.12 (96)
In one of the Club’s most dominant performances away from the Gabba, the Lions blitzed Essendon by 11 goals at Etihad Stadium.
Daniel Bradshaw continued his great form against the Bombers with seven goals which helped the Club to one of its biggest ever scores on enemy territory.
2005: Round 6 @ The Gabba
Brisbane Lions 21.10 (136) def Essendon 12.16 (88)
Jonathan Brown was set to make his highly anticipated return to the field after missing the opening five matches of the 2005 season with a knee injury (as well as a suspension handed down from the previous year’s Grand Final defeat).
The Lions had been noticeably struggling in the early stages of the season without Brown up forward and called upon him to reignite their season.
Unfortunately for Essendon, they copped the full brunt of the fired-up centre-half forward’s frustrations.
Brown’s return was nothing short of remarkable. He dominated from the outset and kicked eight goals from 14 marks in three quarters before being sitting out the entire final quarter on the interchange bench.
His efforts almost single-handedly delivered the Club with an emphatic 48-point win away from home.
2009: Round 19 @ The MCG
Brisbane Lions 12.15 (87) drew Essendon 13.9 (87)
After being non-Finals participants for the past few years, former powerhouses the Brisbane Lions and Essendon were on the improve and faced off in Round 19 at the MCG with an AFL Finals berth up for grabs.
The two young sides traded blows for much of the evening with both taking the ascendancy at different times.
But just when Essendon looked to have secured a narrow victory, the desperate Lions fought back and got to within one straight kick in the dying seconds.
Enter Daniel Bradshaw who took a match-saving mark in the final seconds and kicked truly after the siren to secure a draw - the first and only between the sides since the 1997 merger.
It left both sides with that hollow feeling, although both teams went on to taste September action.
2010: Round 21 @ Etihad Stadium
Brisbane Lions 14.11 (95) def Essendon 10.8 (68)
The most recent match between the Lions and Bombers once again belonged to Jonathan Brown.
After missing the previous week’s game with a groin injury, the Lions skipper finally lined up for his 200th match at Etihad Stadium and didn’t disappoint.
Brown kicked four goals and took 14 marks in the opening two quarters to set up a match-winning lead for the Lions by half-time - and they went on to run out comfortable 27-point winners.
That Round 21 clash remains the last time the Lions have won an official AFL home-and-away match.
