Brad Miller took a spectacular mark in the goalsquare in the second-last minute and kicked the winning goal as bottom side Melbourne beat the Brisbane Lions by one point in an AFL thriller at the MCG.

The Lions looked certain to register their ninth win of the season when Daniel Bradshaw kicked his fourth goal deep into time-on to put his side 11 points up.

But the Demons refused to lie down, with Cameron Bruce and Miller goaling at the other end to seal the memorable 14.9 (93) to 13.14 (92) victory.

Miller and Colin Sylvia kicked four goals apiece for the Demons, while Jonathan Brown (five) and Bradshaw (four) were the leading goalscorers for the visitors.

The early signs looked ominous for the Demons, with Brown goaling in the opening 90 seconds after marking a kick from fellow key forward Bradshaw in the goalsquare.

But the home side were able to lift, kicking five successive goals to lead by as much as 24 points early in the second term.

The hero was the talented but inconsistent Miller, who had three goals on the board by the first break.

The Lions got back into the contest in the second quarter with more than a little help from the umpires, booting three straight goals through Brown, Bradshaw and Michael Rischitelli - all from free kicks, two of which were questionable decisions.

The Demons were given a golden opportunity late in the second quarter to extend their lead, when the Lions were penalised for an incorrect interchange, with Luke Power coming onto the ground too early to replace Simon Black.

But Paul Wheatley was unable to convert the set shot from 30 metres out after the resultant free kick and 50m penalty.

Melbourne led by three points at the long break.

Two goals in as many minutes to Bruce and Sylvia again got Melbourne's lead out to 20 points.

But Rhan Hooper and Bradshaw responded late in the third term at the other end to narrow the margin to eight points at three-quarter time.

The last quarter was a nail-biting affair, with Brisbane outscoring Melbourne by six goals to five, only to fall short by a single point.

The last-ranked Demons' second victory of what has been a sorry 2008 campaign means they are just percentage behind West Coast and Fremantle, with the latter to play tonight against Essendon at Subiaco.

It was Brisbane's second successive poor showing in as many matches at the MCG this season, following a 63-point drubbing by the Western Bulldogs earlier this month.

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