The visitors came from 26 points behind late in the third term to knock off two-time defending AFL premiers Brisbane in a five-point Saturday thriller.
A five-goal Lions burst after halftime appeared to have the home side on track but the Bulldogs found another gear, kicking seven last-quarter goals to win 16.15 (111) to 15.16 (106).
Ed Richards starred with two goals, 30 touches and 16 scoring assists, while a vintage Charlie Cameron (four goals, five tackles) performance almost lifted Brisbane home.
The Lions lost All-Australian midfielder and new co-captain Hugh McCluggage in the first term to a calf injury.
Harris Andrews will also come under scrutiny following contact with Arthur Jones that forced the Bulldog out of the game with concussion in the third term.
Beaten by 10 points at the Gabba last year, Beveridge feared he was watching a re-run before they responded with two late third-quarter goals to offer hope.
The Bulldogs' rooms were buzzing post-game, Beveridge "letting his guard down" when he started singing a club anthem he co-wrote during a live television interview.
He then gave the song, titled Tooth 'n' Nail, a plug in the post-game press conference.
"Bit silly ... it just keeps playing over and over in my head," he said.
"It's only round zero but ... you have a bit of fun.
"The mood's great. When you play last year's premiers and … it seemed like history was repeating itself.
"We had these games through the course of last year, been in the game and then been tested and lost."
The Bulldogs were the best-performing team not to make finals in AFL history last season, never losing by more than four goals but beating a top-eight side just once.
"It's important to us," he said of their early scalp.
"We've got a level of confidence that we weren't too far away from those better teams last year.
"Then tonight was evidence we're bridging the gap a bit."
Marcus Bontempelli's second goal put the Bulldogs in front early in the second half but the Lions responded with five-straight majors, Kai Lohmann and Oscar Allen nabbing two each as Brisbane led 26.
But the Bulldogs replied with five of their own to edge back ahead, with Bailey Williams selling candy to at least three defenders for a brilliant goal before the final break.
The lead fluctuated in the final 15 minutes, with Sam Darcy (two goals) influential and Bontempelli (three goals) threaded the needle with a set shot.
Lohmann squeezed a behind with 44 seconds on the clock to make it a five-point game.
Dayne Zorko's cries for a 50-metre penalty for Joel Freijah stepping off the mark went unheard as the Lions surged forward a final time.
Lachie Neale had a game-high 39 touches and nine clearances while Matthew Kennedy had 30 touches for the Bulldogs and Rory Lobb had a handful of smart defensive plays in his 200th game.
Lions coach Chris Fagan said there were no "alarm bells" but lamented their lapses late in the third term.
"Those two (goals) ... gave them hope," he said.
"We'd played a great quarter then let a couple through in red time and got their tails up, sniffed an opportunity they were able to take."
13°C