Jonathan Brown went from hero to villain to hero as Brisbane posted a thrilling five-point victory over fellow AFL strugglers West Coast at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

The Lions looked on track for victory after surging to a 27-point lead in the second term on the back of four goals to Brown.

West Coast retook the lead during a determined third-quarter surge but Brisbane once again settled and were three points up 15 minutes into the final term when Todd Banfield's kick appeared headed for goal.

Brown, running back with the flight of the ball, attempted to mark the ball less than a metre out from the goal line and fumbled the ball over the line, with the Eagles hitting the lead shortly through Andrew Strijk.

But with just seconds remaining in the match, Brown made amends for his earlier mistake, nudging Eagles defender Mitchell Brown out of the way to take an uncontested mark 35m out from goal.

With the match hinging on his kick, Brown had nerves of steel as he sneaked through the goal, sealing the 10.10 (70) to 9.11 (65) win.

The Lions, who entered the match on an eight-game losing streak, celebrated as if they had won the grand final, while Eagles slumped to their knees after seeing victory slip away.

The result all but guarantees West Coast will collect their first ever wooden spoon, with the Eagles now two games adrift of both Brisbane and Richmond.

The thrilling finish masked what was an otherwise clanger-fest that truly reflected where the two teams sit on the ladder.

Brown finished with five goals while Simon Black, Jared Brennan, Brent Staker and Ashley McGrath were also good for the Lions.

Matt Priddis, Scott Selwood, Andrew Strijk and Brett Jones were among West Coast's best.

The Eagles made a bright start with Nic Naitanui almost snaring mark of the year as West Coast kicked the opening two goals.

But Brisbane settled from there and could have been ahead by quarter time if not for some inaccurate kicking on goal.

The Lions' five-point deficit at the first break was quickly erased in the second term as Brown swung the momentum his team's way with three goals.

Brisbane slammed on six goals to two for the term to take a handy 18-point lead into half-time, but West Coast took control in the third term and briefly retook the lead.

But it was the final term that proved the most entertaining part of the match, with players throwing their bodies on the line as the intensity lifted remarkably.

"In a way I'm really pleased with the effort of the players," said West Coast coach John Worsfold.

"What was at stake was a win or a loss and I thought the players really fought hard in the last quarter and was pleased with the way they went about it.

"We just didn't grab our opportunities and in a tight game it comes down to that, but the effort and intensity was all there."

Brisbane coach Michael Voss felt his side's superior will to win proved the difference.

"In the end, when you get down to the last quarter and there's only a kick in it, that's about the only difference when you talk about the two teams," Voss said.

"I spoke to the players a couple of weeks ago and said that the first win wasn't going to look nice.

"It was more going to be about our will."

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