The Brisbane Lions kept their slim AFL finals hopes flickering with a tense win over Carlton in a contender for the ugliest game of the year.

In a two-hour horror show, one embarrassing skill error was followed by another before Brisbane eventually managed to hold on for a 15-point win at the Gabba.

It was four-game rookie Cheynee Stiller who lifted for the Lions by capping a game-high 28-disposal effort with a 35m sealer on the run just before injury time.

Carlton had drawn to within three points midway through the final term with a Nick Stevens goal but again wilted to fall 8.23 (71) to 7.14 (56).

The Blues' pain was compounded by a suspected A-C shoulder injury to young gun Marc Murphy in the first quarter.

In a match befitting their lowly places on the AFL ladder (13th and 15th), a total of 37 behinds only told part of the story.

Both sides were stagnant with the ball and turnovers were the order of a game which saw 80 ineffective disposals and 41 clangers.

Jason Akermanis still gave the 29,516 Gabba crowd his signature handstand but a sit-up would have been more appropriate.

At one stage there was a run of 12 consecutive behinds during a woeful 26-minute period until the sixth-minute mark of the third term.

Showing the conditions couldn't be blamed on a fine winter's night perfect for football, Brisbane full-forward Daniel Bradshaw then goaled from 45m near the boundary line.

At 6.16 to 4.8 late in the third term, the home fans should have already been preparing to sing the club song.

But Brisbane's nightmares in front of goal threatened to haunt it further when Matthew Lappin and Brendan Fevola cut the lead to 10 at the last change.

The Blues held a one-point advantage at the first break after arguably one of the most forgettable quarters seen this season.

Soft free kicks and dreadful kicking set the tone for the rest of the match.

In a rare highlight, Bradshaw was lucky to escape injury after climbing up the back of Lance Whitnall to grab then lose the ball on his way down onto the Gabba turf in a spectacular fall.

Brisbane kicked clear with three goals in four minutes early in the second term but Carlton clawed its way back.

It took spearhead Fevola until the 10th minute of the second quarter to grab his first mark and kick but made it count with a booming 51m angled goal.

Young Lion Scott Harding was the worst culprit in front of goal by spraying four shots before eventually running into an open goal in the final quarter to give some crucial breathing space.

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