THE BRISBANE Lions have continued a weekend of upsets by knocking off ladder leaders West Coast with a pulsating two-point win at the Gabba on Sunday.
The Lions roared home from 21 points behind during the last quarter to win 16.6 (102) to 15.10 (100).
They kicked eight goals to five in an extraordinary final term and hit the front with 90 seconds remaining courtesy of a James Polkinghorne torpedo that bounced through from 60m.
It is the Lions' first win over a top-eight side since beating Collingwood by eight points at the Gabba in round 10, 2010.
It was also their fifth win over the Eagles in the last six contests, and the 15,546 spectators roared like the Lions had won a Grand Final.
Although Polkinghorne kicked the match-winner, there were heroes all over the field for the Lions, with Niall McKeever's rushed behind just 30 seconds earlier proving crucial.
He won a 50m foot race with Eagle Jack Darling when a goal looked imminent.
The loss for the Eagles (9-2) came on the back of Melbourne's upset win over Essendon and Port Adelaide's thumping of Carlton on Saturday and now leaves them equal on top as they enter the bye.
After trailing by 11 points at half-time, West Coast appeared to have arrested control with a five goals to one third quarter to set up the big final term lead.
But Josh Drummond's third goal from outside 50m at the eight-minute mark changed the momentum.
Jonathan Brown, Daniel Rich and Josh Green quickly followed with goals to reclaim the lead.
Green came on as the substitute at three-quarter time for Aaron Cornelius and kicked three goals to give the Lions hope when there appeared none.
Jed Adcock (28 disposals) and Tom Rockliff with 27 in his 50th game were the most prolific ball-winners for the home team, but Drummond's 26 and three goals were decisive.
Chris Masten and Matt Priddis with 27 touches each were terrific for the Eagles.
The Lions' endeavour was on display from the first quarter, with a commitment at the contest and courage usually associated with their opponents.
Dayne Zorko took a mark running back with the flight of the ball into the oncoming Darren Glass, while Adcock's five first quarter tackles - highlighted by a full body slam on Nic Naitanui - were team-lifting.
The Eagles made their expected run in the second quarter but late goals to the impressive Cornelius and Jared Polec - who took two contested marks for the term - gave the home team a much-deserved 11-point lead at the break.
BRISBANE LIONS 3.3 7.4 8.5 16.6 (102)
WEST COAST 2.1 5.5 10.7 15.10 (100)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Drummond 3, Polkinghorne 3, Green 3, Rich, Zorko, Brown, Bewick, Polec, Merrett, Cornelius
West Coast: Priddis 3, Cox 2, Hurn 2, Masten, Swift, Selwood, Darling, Schofield, Lynch, Hill, Hams
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Redden, Drummond, Rich, Polkinghorne, Zorko, Raines
West Coast: Priddis, Masten, Gaff, Schofield, MacKenzie, Swift
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: TBC
West Coast: TBC
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Ashton Hams replaced Patrick McGinnity at three-quarter time
Brisbane Lions: Josh Green replaced Aaron Cornelius at three-quarter time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Armstrong, Ryan
Official crowd: 15,546 at the Gabba
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
