Brisbane has stormed to the top of the competition table with a 17-point QClash victory over Gold Coast at a sold-out Gabba on Sunday night.
Billed as the most anticipated match of their 28-game rivalry, this one went like so many before it, with the Lions playing their most complete game of 2025 in winning 9.12 (64) to 7.7 (49).
LIONS V SUNS Full match details and stats
It was their 12th win from the past 13 contests against the SUNS and moves them to a 7-1 record so far this year ahead of matches against North Melbourne and Melbourne in the next fortnight.
Following an even first half, which Brisbane led by 11 points, the premier put the game away with a powerful five-goals-to-one third quarter.
Gold Coast kicked the final three goals of the match, but the scoreboard flattered the SUNS in the end.
The Lions overwhelmed their Little Brother in front of a record QClash crowd of 33,612, dominating the clearances (47-28) to provide great field position with 56 inside-50s to just 40.
They were too powerful, too physical, too clean and too polished, particularly around the stoppages.
Playing in their heritage Bears jumper, Will Ashcroft, Hugh McCluggage (30 disposals and eight clearances) and Lachie Neale (25 and 10) dominated the midfield battle in slippery conditions.
Josh Dunkley (26) kept Matt Rowell to 16 disposals and just one clearance, while SUNS skipper Noah Anderson (27) was down on his high standards.
With Sam Day (hamstring) injured in the first quarter and Logan Morris (calf) unable to play, Charlie Cameron returned to form in the smaller forward line with three goals.
Cameron had not kicked a goal for the previous three matches, but broke the drought with two in 60 seconds in the second term.
The first quarter had all the intensity you’d hope for from two top four teams.
Although Brisbane had the better of the stoppage battle and pumped the ball inside 50 regularly, Gold Coast’s defence held up well, giving the home team little time or space for clean disposals.
Dashing winger Lachie Weller was subbed out of the match for the SUNS in the first quarter with a hamstring injury, replaced by Jake Rogers.
After Jarrod Berry kicked a goal on the quarter-time siren to give the Lions the lead, they rattled on three quickly early in the second quarter to extend to a 22-point buffer.
The SUNS were far from perturbed, evening things up around the contest on the back of a huge Touk Miller quarter.
Trailing by 11 points at half-time, the contest was well and truly on. That was, until the third quarter avalanche.
Mac Andrew was magnificent in defeat for the SUNS, but Damien Hardwick’s team has a lot to work on ahead of a fortnight in Darwin that includes matches against the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn.
To cap off a great night for the Lions, Will Ashcroft won the Marcus Ashcroft Medal, named in his father’s honour, as the best player afield with 34 disposals and nine clearances.
Both teams hamstrung in the opening term
After 155 games in 14 seasons for Gold Coast, this was the first time Sam Day would run out against the SUNS, but he wouldn’t make it to quarter time. Day injured his hamstring just before the first change and was immediately subbed by Will McLachlan, leaving the Lions one tall – and their back-up ruckman – short in the front half of the ground. Gold Coast had similar problems of their own, with dashing winger Lachie Weller suffering the same hamstring fate during the opening term and being replaced by Jake Rogers.
BRISBANE 1.4 4.8 9.9 9.12 (64)
GOLD COAST 1.1 3.3 4.5 7.7 (49)
GOALS
Brisbane: Cameron 3, Ah Chee 3, McKenna, Gardiner, Berry
Gold Coast: Walter, King, Read, Swallow, Andrew, Ainsworth, Miller
BEST
Brisbane: McCluggage, W.Ashcroft, Dunkley, L.Ashcroft, Cameron, Payne, Fletcher
Gold Coast: Andrew, Miller, Rioli, Uwland, Humphrey
INJURIES
Brisbane: Day (hamstring)
Gold Coast: Weller (hamstring)
SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane: Will McLachlan (replaced Day during the first quarter)
Gold Coast: Jake Rogers (replaced Weller during the first quarter)
Crowd: 33,612 at the Gabba
