Teenager Daniel McStay’s three goals have helped Brisbane to a hard-fought win over a dour Melbourne.

With the match on the line in the final term, it was the Lions who finished strongest, kicking the final six goals to win 11.8 (74) to 6.15 (51) at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The Demons were indecisive and inaccurate, and will rue long periods of domination without kicking goals.

In bright and clear conditions, the AFL cellar-dwellars produced a performance and scoreboard more akin to a match played in a thunderstorm.

The teams shared just ten goals to three-quarter-time before Brisbane stepped up in the last term.

Melbourne looked content to defend a 14-point lead early in the last term and paid the price, camping out in their defensive 50.

Daniel Merrett, who will face scrutiny for a potential nose-breaker on Cam Pedersen, Jed Adcock and Michael Close first erased the deficit.

McStay, Ryan Harwood and Lewis Taylor then kicked the Lions to a 23-point win, their sixth for the season.

Poor kicking and decision-making plagued both sides all match, with few shining.

Melbourne skipper Nathan Jones was one of those, who with Dom Tyson put in four-quarter performances for the Demons.

While the final quarter was decisive, Melbourne coach Paul Roos will look back on the second term with the most regret.

The Demons outmuscled Brisbane around the ground with no scoreboard reward.

Only Nathan Jones could find the middle during Melbourne’s period of domination, with Luke Tapscott, Dean Kent, Rowan Bail, Mark Jamar, Chris Dawes, Jordi McKenzie and Tyson taking turns to miss.

As Melbourne reached an unsightly 4.11, Brisbane broke a 35-minute goal drought through the impressive McStay.

Melbourne finally had a fifth goal after the three-quarter-time siren when Tyson kicked truly.

Rohan Bail put the Demons 13 points up after the change, and incredibly Melbourne’s tally of 50 looked a winning score.

But instead Melbourne retreated, allowing the Lions to kick six straight goals and claim a deserved win.