The Western Bulldogs have survived a massive scare against the bottom-of-the-ladder Brisbane Lions to keep their finals hopes alive.

The Dogs trailed by 11 points at the final change after going goalless in the third quarter, before kicking clear in the last to win 14.19 (103) to 13.11 (89).

The reigning premiers suffered a number of blows in the early stages, losing Jason Johannisen just prior to the match, then losing acting captain Easton Wood to a hamstring injury in the first quarter.

The brave Lions never stopped fighting and also suffered their own injury concerns, losing Cedric Cox with an ankle injury and Alex Witherden to a potential hamstring strain.

Unlike their round five clash at Etihad Stadium – where the Lions coughed up a 38-point advantage before being over-run badly – the bottom-placed team wouldn't wilt.

Ryan Bastinac kicked back-to-back goals in the middle of the last term to give the home team the lead, but the Bulldogs steadied with the final three goals to Toby McLean, Marcus Bontempelli and Liam Picken.

They dominated play for much of the day, winning the inside 50 count by a whopping 64-37, and deserved to notch their fourth straight win.

Jack Macrae (32 disposals), Lachie Hunter (29) and McLean (28) helped the Bulldogs to dominate the midfield battle, while Bontempelli could have had a monster day if he brought his goal-kicking boots.

The Dogs star finished with 23 touches and kicked 2.4 – plus one out on the full.

In almost replica starts to the first, third and fourth quarters, Bontempelli took marks on the lead from centre clearances, only to miss the set shot.

The Lions' speed worried the Bulldogs in the middle two quarters, with second-gamer Jacob Allison helping to turn the tide with his pace on a wing and Lewy Taylor continuing his fine season.

The Lions kicked 5.4 from just 11 inside 50 entries in the second term.

Daniel Rich (24 disposals) kicked two long-range goals, while Tom Rockliff (22 and two goals) and Dayne Zorko (21 and two goals) also had their moments.

The Lions finished with just two fit players on the bench after Cedric Cox (ankle) and Alex Witherden (hamstring) were both casualties.

The Bulldogs played minus Norm Smith medalist Jason Johannisen, who was the latest of late outs with a tight back, replaced by "travelling emergency" Bob Murphy just minutes before the first bounce.

BRISBANE LIONS        2.2   7.6   11.9   13.10   (89)                  
WESTERN BULLDOGS  6.6   8.11   8.16   14.19   (103)          

GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Zorko 2, Rockliff 2, Taylor 2, Rich 2, Bastinac 2, Berry, Barrett, Mathieson
Western Bulldogs: Redpath 3, Picken 3, Dahlhaus 2, Bontempelli 2, Cloke, Hunter, Smith, McLean

BEST
Brisbane Lions: Walker, Rich, Rockliff, Taylor, Berry, Beams
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Bontempelli, McLean, Redpath, Liberatore, Biggs

INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Cox (ankle), Witherden (hamstring)
Western Bulldogs: Johannisen (back, replaced in side by Murphy), Wood (hamstring)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Harris, Jeffery, Wallace

Official crowd: 16,148 at the Gabba