1. The Lions pull off a stunner without their captain
The game looked finished when Essendon led by 27 points early in the final term. It hadn't been a brilliant display by the Bombers, but it seemed they had done enough against the team that was on the bottom of the ladder. However, the plucky Lions had other ideas, even though they were without skipper Dayne Beams with injury, and then Darcy Gardiner, who was sent to hospital after suffering a dislocated left elbow in the opening term. Inaccurate goalkicking from the Bombers in the first half certainly helped, but Lions fans would have been thrilled to see their side often bursting through the middle of the ground and opening the Dons up. One play in the second quarter saw an opportunistic effort from second-game backman Alex Witherden dash off half-back after Essendon failed to man the mark, setting up an opportunity for Dayne Zorko to run into goal. In the third quarter, they used hands to run the footy out of defence along the wing, ending with Lewis Taylor finding an open Tom Cutler for a mark and goal to bring the margin back into 18 points.

Full match coverage and stats

2. Costly loss for Essendon
The Bombers would have been hoping to boost their percentage and bring their season back to an even ledger at 7-7 against the struggling Lions. They were average by their standards for most of the day, but seemed to have done enough to bank the four points. Instead, they imploded in the last quarter. Their defence was in disarray as an inexperienced Lions outfit took advantage. Michael Hartley had a game to forget on Eric Hipwood, and a dropped uncontested mark in the final term summed up his day. Ryan Lester sealed the game for his side when he slotted a goal with under two minutes remaining but seconds before that, Bombers ruckman Tom Bellchambers lost his feet in a contest against Stefan Martin and the Lion was able to take a mark and pump it into the forward line. Mistakes like those left John Worsfold's side to rue its chances.

Dons' CEO slams shock loss to last-placed Lions

3. The stars redeem themselves
There have been so many great moments in Brendon Goddard's career but his costly kick-in against Sydney last week, when Tom Papley smothered the Bomber after he kicked to himself from the goalsquare, turned out to be very costly in the Dons' one-point loss. An absolute professional, the 2013 best and fairest responded by collecting 13 disposals in the first quarter before finishing with 31 – the highest tally on the ground. Similarly, Dayne Zorko was held to five disposals last week in a rare quiet game for the gun Lion. On Sunday, he finished with 30 disposals and two goals against the Bombers and was one of his side's best as they pulled off a stunning upset.

4. Daniher takes the points against Andrews
Brisbane Lions defender Harris Andrews had the job of minding Joe Daniher in what proved to be an intriguing battle. The Bomber kicked a couple of goals in the opening term but Andrews held his own in the one-on-ones. A particularly impressive example came in the second quarter when the footy went over the top of the pair as they jostled for the mark. As they ran onto the ball, Andrews shoved Daniher away and started a chain that finished with Zorko slotting a goal from the goalsquare. Daniher finished with three goals, with perhaps his most impressive effort when he slotted one from outside 50 off four steps.

5. A rare quiet game for Zach Merrett
The star midfielder would be very high up in contention for the club B&F but he was barely sighted against the Lions. He had just four disposals to the main break but managed to lift his output, finishing with 19. His precise kicking and creativeness with the football often helps set the forwards up. His diminished influence was one reason why the Bombers weren't as potent as they sometimes are, with 27 scoring shots from 61 inside-50s. Don't expect to see the 21-year-old play too many more games like that.