BRISBANE Lions coach Michael Voss saw enough signs after the last gasp win over West Coast to know his team is heading in the right direction.

The Lions ended their losing run at eight and recorded their second win in 15 games when captain Jonathan Brown booted his fifth goal with seconds remaining.  

While Brown was the match-winner, the defence of Ash McGrath, Brent Staker and Matt Maguire was outstanding, Simon Black led the way in the midfield and youngsters Jack Redden, Ryan Harwood and Pearce Hanley had terrific nights.

Voss was glad to come out the winner in a game touted as the battle for the wooden spoon.

"It was more relief I think and a hint of excitement," he said after the match.

"The players now know that they can get through tough times so that gives them confidence that they can rally together as a group and come through it. All our statistics had been improving, but the four points was what we couldn’t turn around.

"The biggest hurdle of all was that mental barrier of how do you actually win. Maybe there was two teams out there that haven’t had a lot of winning recently and have forgotten how to do that on a consistent basis. That's why it was a fight in the end."

Brown was almost the game's villain after dropping a mark midway through the last quarter on a Todd Banfield shot at goal that would have gone through.

"It was polar opposites at that particular stage and he wasn’t resilient then, but on that goal line you have to make choices and he just went for it," Voss said.

"He'll have his 200th next week and I'm sure there'll be lots of things said about him. He's one of the toughest and most resilient blokes that I've played with and now had the pleasure to coach. His will is unbelievable and he leads his team so very well. He rises to the occasion."