Brisbane star forwards Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw combined for an after-the-siren goal which led to the second draw of the AFL season against Essendon at the MCG on Saturday night.

Bradshaw capped an incredibly see-sawing match by taking a goalsquare mark in the dying seconds, then finished the deal after the siren to take the Lions to 12.15 (87) to Essendon's 13.9 (87).

Brown had wrenched the ball out of a forward line pack to kick the ball forward, allowing Bradshaw's mark.

That those two forwards combined for the match-defining moment was a bitter pill to Bombers' key defenders Tayte Pears and Dustin Fletcher, who had blanketed the Brisbane tall targets throughout the night.

Pears kept Brown goal-less, although he missed a number of set shots, while Fletcher prevented Bradshaw from scoring a major until the final term, when he finally escaped his clutches to kick two.

The Bombers had entered the final term 15 points in front, having overcome an 11-point deficit midway through the third quarter with five of the last six goals for the term.

But Brisbane charged into the lead with three quick goals in the opening nine minutes of the final term.

With the Lions leading by five points 12 minutes into the quarter Michael Rischitelli had a chance to stretch it to 11 but he hit the post from about 40m, pushing the margin out to six points.

Quinn made the Lions pay two minutes later when he goaled from similar range to level the scores.

The Bombers followed up with a quick snapped goal to Angus Monfries, then took what seemed a handy eight-point buffer in time-on when Sam Lonergan and Michael Hurley both missed shots.

In a nail-biting finish, Josh Drummond and Brown both missed set shots for the Lions to again narrow the gap to a single kick entering the game's final minute.

Essendon's Adam McPhee looked to have made the game-saving play when he took a sensational mark deep in defence running with the flight of the ball to prevent Brown from marking.

But, after the Bombers failed to clear their defence, Brown had the final say with his effort to set up Bradshaw.

Midfielder Jobe Watson was excellent throughout the night for the Bombers, with Pears and Fletcher also high in their best, while for Brisbane veteran midfielders Luke Power and Simon Black were very good, as was speedster Justin Sherman and Mitch Clark excelled in the ruck.

The result was the season's second draw after Richmond and North Melbourne in round 16.

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