The Western Bulldogs overcame a late surge by Lions dynamo Jonathan Brown, and the absence of injured skipper Luke Darcy, to score a massive 23-point upset win over Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Led by inspirational stand-in captain Brad Johnson, the Bulldogs outplayed their more fancied opponents in every facet of the contest to run out 15.20 (110) to 12.15 (87) winners.

Johnson led the way for the visitors with three goals - including a beauty off the ground early in the final term - and 28 disposals in the absence of Darcy who suffered a season-ending knee injury last weekend.

The game hung in the balance midway through the final term with the Lions closing to within four points on the back of Brown before Nathan Eagleton and Mitch Hahn kicked successive goals to seal the six points.

The win was the Bulldogs' first triumph in Brisbane since round 10, 1999 and condemned the Lions to three consecutive losses at the Gabba, a feat the AFL world hasn't been witness to since 1998.

Brown, who kicked eight goals in his comeback game against Essendon last weekend, tried desperately to inspire his side with a five-goal haul.

He stood head and shoulders above his teammates who are beginning to show their age after a remarkable four-year dominance.

Brownlow medallists Michael Voss, Simon Black and Jason Akermanis struggled throughout the contest while the Lions' defensive unit failed to make any inroads on the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs got the jump on their more-fancied opponents from the outset and managed to establish a 12-point quarter-time buffer.

The visitors then dominated every facet of the second term as Brisbane's array of stars struggled with their confidence.

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