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A Laitham Vandermeer behind inside the final minute was the difference as the Western Bulldogs beat Brisbane in their AFL semi-final.

A rushed behind inside the final minute was the difference as the Western Bulldogs won a thrilling AFL semi-final against Brisbane at the Gabba.

Laitham Vandermeer urged the ball through to ensure the 11.13 (79) to 11.12 (78) result, icing a match that see-sawed until the final moments.

Final quarter hero Bailey Smith's calm left-footer from an angle with two minutes to play put the Dogs ahead by six, the goal coming after Lincoln McCarthy had an attacking free kick reversed.

Brisbane rallied though, Zac Bailey running into an open goal to level the scores again with 74 seconds to play.

Another free kick at the centre bounce helped the ball forward for the Bulldogs in what proved the decisive clearance between two sides that had been separated by half a percentage point at the end of the regular season.

"We just felt someone was going to be fortunate enough to be in front at the end of the whole thing and fortunately it was us," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.

"It was a bit of a crazy game, the madness of the whole situation ... there were times in the last quarter I was trying to remember the detail of what happens when it's a draw.

"Sometimes this game is really cruel and sometimes it's beautiful and we were lucky to feel the emotions of the latter."

The Bulldogs will now play Port Adelaide in a preliminary final while it is a third-straight finals exit and second straight-sets departure for Brisbane without a grand final appearance.

A "flat" Lions coach Chris Fagan didn't bite when asked about a lopsided 28-19 penalty count and was optimistic despite another finals near-miss.

"It's fair to say the tape will show that we left a few scoring opportunities out there," he said.

"All these things in the end help you once you learn to take the lessons from the result."

Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli (29 touches) went off late in the final term with a knee complaint that will need closer inspection, but Caleb Daniel (31 disposals) and Jack Macrae (38) ensured it was no one-man job for the visitors.

Hugh McCluggage (28 touches) was a shining light for the hosts while Charlie Cameron kicked three brilliant first-quarter goals.

Already patched-up due to injuries, the Lions lost both Jack Payne and Jarrod Berry to head knocks in the second quarter, while Cody Weightman was also subbed at halftime following a head knock.

Cameron lit up the Gabba in an incredible five-minute passage, snapping a goal then managing arguably his best effort of the year when he pinned a punt across his body while running full-tilt towards the pocket.

The Bulldogs kicked three straight to take back the lead but Brisbane lifted again to create a 10-point buffer at the final break.

Macrae, with his 34th possession, didn't miss to begin the final term and then former Lion Josh Schache put his side in front after a bad turnover in Brisbane's forward line.

Smith wobbled another through, just beating Marcus Adams on the line as the Dogs jumped ahead by eight points.

Tom Fullarton then lobbed up with a crucial Lions goal, kicking truly before fullback Harris Andrews' move forward almost pocketed him a goal.

His set shot just sailed wide though, levelling the score with eight minutes to play.

Smith and Bailey traded blows before the crucial centre bounce penalty that led to the vital point that quelled the 36,470-strong crowd.