North Melbourne has survived a huge scare to keep its final hopes alive, beating Brisbane by three points in a pulsating finish at the Gabba on Saturday.
With 30 seconds remaining, No.1 draft pick Cam Rayner was awarded a free kick 30m out on a slight angle, but his around the corner attempt drifted to the right.
The Kangaroos hung on to win 16.11 (107) to 16.8 (104) to sit outside the eight on percentage.
It was another devastating loss for Brisbane, who have also lost matches by five points to Gold Coast, Adelaide and Port Adelaide and seven points to Collingwood.
North can breathe a huge sigh of relief after leading by 24 points earlier in the term and almost stopping to a walk in the last quarter.
In the absence of injured midfield ace Shaun Higgins, Trent Dumont stood up with 29 disposals – 21 of them in a dominant first half.
Jack Ziebell was a constant threat whether midfield or forward and finished with 26 touches and three goals, while Majak Daw was a colossus in defence.
The Kangaroos dominated play for much of the day and deserved their victory.
The Lions were lacklustre in the first half and looked out of the contest for most of the game before their late rally.
Young midfielders Jarrod Berry (28 possessions) and particularly Hugh McCluggage (26 and three goals) were largely instrumental for the fightback.
Dayne Zorko (35 possessions and two goals) was almost a one-man show in the first half as the Lions floundered under North's pressure.
Coach Brad Scott said there was "an element of relief" with the victory.
"I thought that when it really mattered, a lot of our players really dug deep and that's what I'm most pleased about," he said.
"I think there's a lot of character in our group and when they just had to find a way, they found a way.
"We can't control Rayner missing but we can control Robbie Tarrant's spoil on (Eric) Hipwood late, Kayne Turner as a forward getting up, defending basically on the last line after he slipped over, could’ve easily conceded.
"They're the things that we'll take out of it."
BRISBANE 6.0 9.2 13.4 16.8 (104)
NORTH MELBOURNE 5.1 12.6 14.9 16.11 (107)
GOALS
Brisbane: McCluggage 3, Rayner 2, Robinson 2, Mathieson 2, McInerney 2, Zorko 2, Hipwood, Taylor, Christensen
North Melbourne: Ziebell 3, Walker 2, Atley 2, Waite 2, Turner 2, Cunnington, Hrovat, Wood, Simpkin, Brown
BEST
Brisbane: McCluggage, Zorko, Berry, Christensen, Robinson, Andrews
North Melbourne: Ziebell, Dumont, Daw, Simpkin, Goldstein
MEDICAL ROOM
Brisbane Lions: No worries for the Lions with Oscar McInerney's corked quad in the third quarter the only minor concern. The backup ruckman limped around for a few minutes but took a strong mark moments later and played the game out.
North Melbourne: Good news for the Kangaroos with a clean bill of health. Jarrad Waite got through his first full game in 10 weeks, kicking two goals.
NEXT UP
North Melbourne needs to keep on winning and has a great chance to do so next Sunday against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, while the Lions will make their second trip to the MCG for the season, playing Collingwood on Saturday night.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Brown, Chamberlain, Pannell
Official crowd: 18,395 at the Gabba
