Gold Coast has once again failed to prove they can go toe-to-toe with Brisbane, going down in the Q-Clash 9.12. (66) to 7.7. (49).
The Suns had started the season in strong form at 5-1 and with a percentage of 150, though many questioned whether they’d been truly tested against a good opposition.
Well that test came in the form of their bigger brothers Brisbane in the Q-Clash, and they were no match for the reigning premiers, who have now won 12 of their last 13 against Gold Coast, though they finished strong and closed the margin somewhat in junk time.
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Charlie Cameron of the Lions celebrates a goal AFL Photos via Getty Images
It was a low scoring game in wet and scrappy conditions, but the Lions had too much firepower as Charlie Cameron and Callum Ah Chee combined for six goals in the first three quarters to put the game away.
Brisbane great Jonathan Brown admits he was disappointed to see the Suns fall so flat in front of a sold out Gabba.
“It’s been a mauling around stoppage. We know they’ve done this to a lot of teams, but we thought this Gold Coast midfield could start to stack up against Brisbane’s, but no, they’ve been found out,” Brown told Fox Footy.
“This was their first real test of the season.”
“Damien Hardwick would be very disappointed. They’re still on the right track. They’ll hope this is just a blip. They’ll fight back.”
Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy agreed with Brown’s sentiment, saying this always loomed as the big test for the Suns.
“Well it was potentially graduation day (for the Suns). There’s always a question mark given the calibre of sides they’ve beaten, they’ve had an easy draw. Last week against the Swans was big, but the Swans are depleted,” Healy said.
“This was always going to be the test.”
The Suns were thrashed around the contest in the wet, losing the clearance count 47-26 and contested possessions 147-121.
Brothers Will and Levi Ashcroft combined for 63 disposals, as the next generation continues to star for the Lions.
Brisbane faces North Melbourne in round nine, while Gold Coast hosts the Western Bulldogs in another huge test.
