Brisbane seem to be learning from their frequent last-quarter capitulations, judging by the gutsy come-from-behind AFL victory against Port Adelaide at the Gabba on Sunday.

The Lions trailed by three goals late in the third term before over-running the Power to win 15.9 (99) to 13.10 (88) in a rare last-quarter conquest.

Too often this season the Lions have hoisted the white flag when challenged in the final term.

Before their win on Sunday, there have been six matches in which the Lions have trailed by three goals or less at the last change yet they have only converted one of those opportunities into a win.

The Lions also led Fremantle and St Kilda at three-quarter time and lost.

Against the Power, though, they rose to the occasion in what Lions coach Michael Voss saw as a moment of maturity.

"To be able to get to the latter part of the game, where we have been in winning positions before, and think through that and each moment as it was - other than think 'we really need the win' and 'how good would this be?'" Voss said.

"To think their way through that with some composure was good."

The Lions trailed for much of the day and at every change after Port Adelaide got off to a flyer.

The Power kicked the opening three goals which included two from key forward Jay Schulz who bagged seven for the match - the biggest haul of his career and one shy of the club record held by former skipper Warren Tredrea.

Schulz does go into the club record books for the most goals kicked by a Power player against the Lions.

Yet Brisbane kept chipping away in a game riddled with errors that was frustrating for the 17,276 fans to endure.

Port Adelaide kept the Lions at bay in the first half through a vastly superior clearance rate of 23-13 but they were unable to sustain their dominance and the Lions won the all-important battle 42-40 and the game along with it.

Brisbane's emerging midfielder Andrew Raines, veteran Ash McGrath and Brownlow medallist Simon Black all had significant roles in the Lions winning the clinches and the second-half fightback, while skipper Jonathan Brown booted four goals.

Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus said it was bitterly disappointing not to kick a goal in the last quarter.

Primus also lamented the fact his side couldn't sustain their dominance in the midfield after a promising start and then a similar beginning in the third term.

"It's real disappointing," Primus said.

"In the second half we got smashed again in stoppages and our inability to win the ball cost us.

"It might not have hurt us on the scoreboard in the third quarter but it was rearing its head."

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