IN UPSETTING the Western Bulldogs, the Brisbane Lions not only got off the bottom of the ladder, but showed their best footy was pretty damn good, said coach Justin Leppitsch.

The Lions undoubtedly saved their best for last, as they piled on 19 goals in the unlikely eight-point win over the finals-bound Dogs.

Match Report: Lions V Bulldogs

While it might have cost them the No.1 pick in November's NAB AFL Draft – that 'honour' will now go to wooden-spooners Carlton – Leppitsch could not care less.

The win meant everything to him and the Lions at the back end of a horrific year.

"It does a lot for the group, their spirit," Leppitsch said.

"It's great for our footy club to know that when we play our best footy we've got something there.

"We've kind of known it's been there when we play well, it just hasn't been for long enough parts of the game.

"There's enough good stuff there to build off."

Jed Adcock and Josh Green kicked four goals apiece and the Lions took 21 marks inside forward 50 in their most polished attacking display of 2015.

For a team that entered the final round ranked last in attack, it was the third time in the past five weeks they had topped 100 points.

Match Highlights: Lions V Bulldogs

"It's just a matter of backing ourselves to execute the plan and the boys not going into their shells, which was really what today's mission was all about, taking the shackles off and just playing our styling and how we want to play," Leppitsch said.

The one sour note in the victory was the pre-match hamstring injury to Brent Staker, which robbed the retiring veteran of a farewell appearance.

The irony was not lost on Leppitsch.

"Funny enough, I could actually believe it. That is the worst thing," he said.

"It pretty much sums up our year. A guy in his farewell game injures his hamstring in the warm-up, has it ever happened?

"Seriously, if it's going to happen to anyone, it's us."