Trailing by 22 points midway through the fourth quarter, the Crows kicked the final four goals of the match to steal the win 16.14 (110) to 16.9 (105).
With less than three minutes remaining, Graham Johncock - who had been swung forward by Bickley in the fourth term - took a strong pack mark and converted the goal from 20m.
The Lions moved the ball forward in the dying seconds but Andrew Raines' rushed effort went out on the full from near the behind post.
It was another soul-destroying loss for the Lions, who are now 0-8 without captain Jonathan Brown and are still in the hunt for the wooden spoon ahead of next Saturday's second edition of the Q-clash against Gold Coast.
In a match that often lacked the skill and befitted teams 14th and 15th on the ladder, things came to life in the fourth term.
After two goals to Mitch Clark, the Crows started their fightback with Taylor Walker's strong mark and goal.
Substitute Ricky Henderson also marked strongly and goaled, and when Walker kicked his fourth the margin was back to a single point.
Scott Thompson was tireless in the midfield for the victors, racking up 38 disposals, while captain Nathan van Berlo (26 and two goals) was not far behind.
For the Lions, Tom Rockliff was inspirational all day, collecting 34 touches, while Simon Black had 26 and seven clearances.
The Lions played almost the entire match without defender Joel Patfull, who was substituted after 10 minutes with a wrist injury.
QUARTER BY QUARTER
FIRST QUARTER
Lions defender Joel Patfull became one of the quickest substitutions this year when he left the field with a wrist injury after less than 10 minutes. Both teams kept pace with each other early on, with Adelaide’s first three goals coming from free kicks. Nathan van Berlo gave the Crows a two-goal break when he kicked truly from beyond 50m half way through the quarter, but two goals to Aaron Cornelius and Ash McGrath’s second major gave the lead back to the Lions. The Crows kicked the last two goals of the quarter to hold a seven-point buffer.
ADELAIDE 6.3 (39) BRISBANE LIONS 5.1 (31)
SECOND QUARTER
The goal umpires were kept busy in the second quarter with a combined seven goals kicked in the first 16 minutes. The main instigators were the Lions, who kicked four straight to turn a two-goal deficit into a two-goal lead. Taylor Walker made it seven points when he kicked the Crows’ ninth (and his second) in the 25th minute but a 50m penalty against van Berlo gifted Ash McGrath his third goal and ensured the Lions would go into the main break in front.
BRISBANE LIONS 11.6 (72) ADELAIDE 9.5 (59)
THIRD QUARTER
Brisbane had the first goal of the quarter, courtesy of James Polkinhorne and Jack Gunston had his third for the match not long after for the Crows. Two consecutive goals to Aaron Cornelius had the Lions asserting their authority with the margin out to four goals. Gunston had three chances to steer the Crows back into the match but had only two points to show from his three shots on goal. Despite pressing hard in the dying moments of the quarter, Adelaide was unable to kick a goal before the siren blew.
BRISBANE LIONS 14.7 (91) ADELAIDE 10.11 (71)
FOURTH QUARTER
Adelaide scored its first goal from an unlikely source - defender Graham Johncock, who gave the Crows hope of a comeback. The Crows were camped in their forward 50 but could not break through until substitute Ricky Henderson goaled in the 20th minute to cut the margin to seven. Walker’s fourth goal cut the margin to one before Johncock gave Adelaide the lead for the first time since the second quarter. Andrew Raines had a chance to put the Lions back in front but his shot at goal from close range went out on the full and the Crows prevailed by five points.
Adelaide 6.3 9.5 10.10 16.14 (110)
Brisbane Lions 5.1 11.6 14.7 16.9 (105)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 4, Gunston 3, Wright 2, Johncock 2, van Berlo, Henderson, Jacobs, Riley
Brisbane Lions: Cornelius 4, McGrath 3, Clark 2, Karnezis 2, Rockliff, Hanley, Pokinghorne, Leuenberger, Banfield
BEST
Adelaide: Thompson, van Berlo, Gunston, Jacobs, Sloane
Brisbane Lions: Rockliff, Black, Hanley, Staker, Cornelius, McGrath
INJURIES
Adelaide: Knights (calf)
Brisbane Lions: Patfull (wrist)
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Chris Knights (calf) replaced by Ricky Henderson in the third quarter
Brisbane Lions: Joel Patfull (wrist) replaced by Jsoh Dyson in the first quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Kamolins, Armstrong, McInerney
Official crowd: 17,930 at the Gabba
