Brendan Fevola thrilled and spilled but it was Jared Brennan and Jonathan Brown who stole the show as Brisbane bravely overran West Coast on Saturday night.

The Lions came from 14 points down late in the third term to outmuscle the young Eagles 16.18 (114) to 12.10 (82) on a slippery Gabba.

Inspired by Brennan's brilliance and three classic Brown goals, the home side cut loose in the final quarter with seven goals.

With no fit men on the bench and several players cramping up, the Lions gutsed it out after Daniel Kerr and Nic Natanui had the Eagles poised for an upset.

Fevola kicked 3.7 and one shank out of bounds while skipper Brown finished with five goals to dismiss any concerns the two power forwards could not work together in the Brisbane forward line.

"Big Browny was kicking them from everywhere and I was spraying them but it was a good start," Fevola told Fox Sports. "If we kick eight goals between us (each week) we're going to go a long way to winning games."

The controversial Carlton recruit saw plenty of ball and worked hard against Darren Glass but endured a forgettable first two-and-a-half quarters in Brisbane debut on the slippery Gabba, kicking 1.4.

It took him less than 10 seconds to enter the fray in his Lions debut, taking a chest mark from Daniel Rich opening centre clearance, but his angled shot was wide to the right.

But Fevola lit up the crowd of 29,201 late in the third term when he booted a 52m monster to drag the Lions back to within eight points of the visitors.

Midfield maestro Simon Black then found Luke Power unmarked 35m out on the three-quarter time siren for the influential left-footer to slot his third.

It was two of eight straight for Brisbane, including a freak effort by Fevola who recovered from spilling a simple chest mark to soccer the ball through from the tightest of angles.

Brennan collected a game-high 31 possessions and kicked a 60m goal to gave his side the lead early in the final term.

The Lions were hard hit by injuries, starting with a suspected dislocated finger to former Sydney star Amon Buchanan in the opening term.

Defensive playmaker Josh Drummond was among Brisbane's best in the first half until limping off while vice-captain Jed Adcock badly twisted his ankle as he attempted to chase down Brad Ebert in the third quarter.

Milestone man Matt Maguire also appeared to cramp up late in his 100th game but the former St Kilda defender returned.

Like Fevola, Maguire and Buchanan, Brisbane's other new faces endured tough starts with Brent Staker, rookie Todd Banfield and Andrew Raines mixing some good with bad.

Lions coach Michael Voss confirmed Buchanan had broken his thumb while Adcock is also likely to miss Thursday night's showdown with Carlton with an ankle injury.

Voss was extremely proud of his team's ability to turn the match around while being reduced in numbers.

"It was a war of attrition," he said.

"After tonight I'm a bit in awe of our group and how we went about it.

"It comes down to fire in the belly and will to win and they showed that in spades."

West Coast coach John Worsfold was disappointed by the Eagles' late fadeout.

"I felt at three-quartertime we were a chance of winning the game but they broke us open."

Lions coach Michael Voss confirmed Buchanan had broken his thumb while Adcock is also likely to miss Thursday night's showdown with Carlton with an ankle injury.

Voss was extremely proud of his team's ability to turn the match around while being reduced in numbers.

"It was a war of attrition," he said. "After tonight I'm a bit in awe of our group and how we went about it.

"It comes down to fire in the belly and will to win and they showed that in spades."

West Coast coach John Worsfold was disappointed by the Eagles' late fadeout. "I felt at three-quartertime we were a chance of winning the game but they broke us open."

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