The Brisbane Lions had their chances but were wasteful in front of goal and have been defeated by 22 points by Essendon today at the Gabba. 

Bombers Captain Dyson Heppell was knocked out of the match midway through the second quarter after a huge clash with Luke Hodge, but despite playing a man down, the Bombers were good enough to win 12.12 (84) to 8.14 (62).

It was their fifth victory of the season and keeps the slightest of slight hopes of playing finals alive.

For the Lions, vice-captain Harris Andrews was clearly the best player afield, finishing with 24 touches, including 12 marks, six of them contested, in an almost perfect full-back's game.

However it wasn't enough to get his team home, as Essendon were too strong despite being without their skipper for two-and-a-half quarters.

A loose ball bounced between Heppell and Hodge, and at full pace Hodge fumbled, careering into the oncoming Heppell.

The Bombers' captain wore the full brunt of the bump and was assisted from the field nursing a bloody mouth.

With no alternate play on the ball, it appeared as if Hodge's shoulder made contact with Heppell's head.

Essendon refused to buckle without its skipper,  and its pressure for most of the day was outstanding, set up by a frenetic first quarter.

The Bombers led by just eight points at the first change but led the Lions by 10 in the tackle count and 12 in contested possessions, such was their ferocity around the contest.

It was the 12th straight match this season in which the Lions have lost the opening quarter.

The match was marred by poor kicking at goal by both teams, and although the Lions at times closed the margin over the final three terms, they never really threatened.

Lions Coach Chris Fagan could only shake his head at another day of missed opportunities.

"They had a lot more inside 50s, so you’ve got to give them credit for that, but at key moments in the game when it could've just got the crowd a bit more involved and people up and about, we missed critical set shots," Fagan said. 

"I think we kicked 5.10 from set shots…I reckon a few of those were regulation, put-them-away shots.

"That hurts. Just closing the gap a little bit and putting pressure on the opposition."

BRISBANE                   2.4   3.7    5.9     8.14 (84)
ESSENDON                 4.0   7.4    8.11   12.12 (62)          

GOALS

Brisbane: Hipwood 2, Zorko 2, Berry, McInerney, McStay, Martin
Essendon: Stringer 3, Brown 2, Heppell 2, McDonald-Tipungwuti 2, Green, Guelfi, McKernan

BEST 

Brisbane: Andrews, Rich, Gardiner, Witherden, Martin, Zorko
Essendon: Merrett, Stringer, McGrath, Myers, Smith, Saad

INJURIES 

Brisbane: Nil                                                                                                                                  

Essendon: Heppell (concussion), Smith (calf)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: O’Gorman, McInerney, Wallace               

Official crowd: 20,476 at the Gabba