The inaugural Q-Clash in Round 7 this season was a cracking contest, filled with a plethora of spectacular marks and goals. Expect more of the same when Brisbane and Gold Coast play for bragging rights at the Gabba tonight. Join us from 7.00pm AEST for a live blog.
It was a case of ‘so close yet so far’ for the Lions last weekend as they gallantly went down to Adelaide by five points.
They were in control for the majority of the contest, but fatigue and poor disposal efficiency, especially in the fourth term, cost them dearly. Unfortunately for the Lions, the same trend has cost them numerous matches in 2011.
However there were a few positives for Brisbane last Sunday, with young forward Aaron Cornelius booting four goals and gun midfielder Tom Rockliff accumulating a career-high 34 possessions.
The Lions have played 11 debutants this season, so hopefully they’re set for the future. But until they play four consistent quarters, the losses will continue to come.
It was always going to be tough for Gold Coast last weekend, but no one expected it to get so ugly.
Pardon the pun, but the Suns were eclipsed and taught a lesson by the all-conquering Geelong at Skilled Stadium, losing by a whopping 150 points. They were never in the hunt, with the Cats skipping ahead to a 94-point lead by half-time.
Perhaps the biggest loss for the Suns last weekend though was the bizarre injury to Campbell Brown. The nuggetty and experienced defender left Skilled Stadium in an ambulance after fracturing his pelvis and will now miss the remainder of the season.
The Suns are still a young side and continue to learn every week. Their challenge for the rest of the season is to play ‘men’s football’ – as described by their coach Guy McKenna – for as long as possible during games.
The rivalry between these two teams is only one game old, but you get the feeling there are already scores to settle.
Many of Brisbane’s experienced players were devastated and embarrassed following Gold Coast’s shock win earlier in the year, so expect the likes of Simon Black and Luke Power to have an impact. However former Lions Jared Brennan and Michael Rischitelli will be keen to lift the Suns over the line against their former club.
Version one was a beauty. Will the second be just as gripping?
Brisbane Lions team
B: Ashley McGrath, Matt Maguire, Cheynee Stiller
HB: Brent Staker, Niall McKeever, Jed Adcock
C: Tom Rockliff, Andrew Raines, Pearce Hanley
HF: James Polkinghorne, Mitchell Clark, Sam Sheldon
F: James Hawksley, Aaron Cornelius, Todd Banfield
Foll: Matthew Leuenberger, Simon Black, Jack Redden
I/C: Josh Drummond, Luke Power, Mitchell Golby, Patrick Karnezis
Emg: Amon Buchanan, Ryan Harwood, Rohan Bewick
In: Josh Drummond, Matt Maguire, Mitchell Golby
Out: Joel Patfull (Hand), Amon Buchanan, Josh Dyson
Gold Coast Suns team
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Steven May, Seb Tape
HB: Joel Wilkinson, Nathan Bock, Joseph Daye
C: Matt Shaw, Gary Ablett, Maverick Weller
HF: Daniel Stanley, Tom Lynch, Jared Brennan
F: Harley Bennell, Charlie Dixon, Zac Smith
Foll: Josh Fraser, Trent McKenzie, Michael Rischitelli
I/C: Nathan Krakouer, Sam Iles, Dion Prestia, David Swallow
Emg: Hayden Jolly, Tom Hickey, Liam Patrick
In: Gary Ablett, Joseph Daye, Charlie Dixon, Matt Shaw, Dion Prestia
Out: Hayden Jolly, Rory Thompson (Illness), Daniel Harris (Groin), Campbell Brown (Pelvis), Jeremy Taylor (Groin)
Last time: Gold Coast Suns 18.16 (124) defeated Brisbane Lions 17.14 (116), Round 7, 2011 at the Gabba
Record Overall: Brisbane Lions 0, Gold Coast Suns 1, Draws 0
At this ground: Brisbane Lions 0, Gold Coast Suns 1, Draws 0
Betting: Brisbane Lions $1.36, Gold Coast Suns $3.20
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
Full Time, BL 18.15.123 – GC 8.13.61 Convincing win to the Lions. Great last quarter performance, outscoring the Suns 8.4 to 4.4. Young players like Redden, Rockliff and Polkinghorne very impressive. Black classy as ever, wins the Marcus Ashcroft medal for his 31-possession and nine-clearances performance. As for the Suns, they're tired. They want the end of the season, now. That's all from me. Thanks for following. Be good.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
Full Time, BL 18.15.123 – GC 8.13.61 Goals: BL: 2- Staker, Polkinghorne, Leunberger, Banfield, Clark and Sheldon, 1 – Raines, Adcock, Stiller, Karnezis, Hanley and Black GC: 2- Shaw and Rischitelli, 1- Stanley, Ablett, Bennell and Fraser Leading Disposals: BL: 34- Rockliff, 31- Black GC: 28- Ablett, 27- Bock
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
Full Time, BL 18.15.123 – GC 8.13.61 GOAL – Polkinghorne (BL) Great way to finish the game for the Lions with Polkinghorne reading the ball nicely off the stoppage and snapping a goal on the final siren.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
1 to go in 4th, BL 17.15.117 – GC 8.13.61 GOAL – Sheldon (BL) This time Sheldon gets his second goal. Took a mark near the boundary and kicked truly from 50m. Nice little celebration too.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
2 to go in 4th, BL 16.15.111 – GC 8.13.61 GOAL - Rischitelli (GC) Gets his second in a minute, running into an open goal after getting into space.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
2 to go in 4th, BL 16.15.111 – GC 7.13.55 Sheldon thought he'd slotted through a miraculous goal. But umpire calls it back and says it was touched.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
2 to go in 4th, BL 16.14.110 – GC 7.13.55 GOAL – Rischitelli (GC) Rischitelli picks the ball up inside forward 50 and snaps truly around the body. At least the Suns are running the game out here.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
4 to go in 4th, BL 16.14.110 – GC 6.13.49 GOAL – Fraser (GC) Ruckman to ruckman: Smith kicks long inside forward 50 and finds Fraser. Goes back from 30m out and kicks an easy goal. Breaks the Lions' run.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
5 to go in 4th, BL 16.14.110 – GC 5.13.43 GOAL – Karnezis (BL) Bock falls over at the wrong time, allowing Karnezis to take the footy uncontested and kick a goal from 30m out. Lions with the last six.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
7 to go in 4th, BL 15.14.104 – GC 5.12.42 GOAL – Stiller (BL) Stiller receives a handpass from Power and, off one step, kicks a goal from 45m out.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
8 to go in 4th, BL 14.14.98 – GC 5.12.42 GOAL – Banfield (BL) Wilkinson gives away a free kick for holding. Banfield hasn't kicked straight tonight (1.5), but steers this one through for his second. Wheels have fallen off for the Suns.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
10 to go in 4th, BL 13.14.92– GC 5.11.41 GOAL – Leunberger (BL) Redden finds Karnezis at half forward. The Greek man finds Leunberger inside 50, who slots his second for term. Getting ugly now - 51 points.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
11 to go in 4th, BL 12.14.86– GC 5.11.41 GOAL – Black (BL) Pure class from the Brownlow medallst. Black extracst the footy from the stoppage inside forward 50, swings onto the left foot and nails it. A nice goal to add to 29 classy touches.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
14 to go in 4th, BL 11.14.80– GC 5.11.41 GOAL - Leunberger (BL) Big goal from the big man! Jack Redden found Leunberger, who got open in the centre square. Ran to 55m and slotted a beauty.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
14 to go in 4th, BL 10.14.74 – GC 5.11.41 Tom Lynch marks strongly in the forwsard pocket. On the right side for a right-footer. Looks of off the boot but slams into the goal post.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
15 to go in 4th, BL 10.14.74 – GC 5.10.40 Beautiful centering kick from Rockliff finds Staker 20m out from goal. Unfortunately he doesn't reward Rockliff's good work and misses the goal.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
17 to go in 4th, BL 10.12.72 – GC 5.10.40 GOAL - Bennell (GC) Great persistence from the Suns, keeping it inside forward 50. Swallow shrugs a tackle and gives a handpass off to Bennell. He snaps around the body and gets Gold Coast's fifth.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
17 to go in 4th, BL 10.12.72 – GC 4.10.34 Big boo boo! Banfield gives handball to Staker in the goal square by himself, but the handball is too hot for Staker and it dribbles through for a minus score. Oops.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
19 to go in 4th, BL 10.11.71 – GC 4.9.33 Both subs have been activated: BL - Karnezis on for Cornelius GC - Prestia on for Dixon
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
Three-quarter time, BL 10.11.71 – GC 4.9.33 Suns weren't able to make any headway during that term. Basically game over, especially if the Lions get the first couple. Goals: BL: 2- Staker and Clark, 1 – Sheldon, Hanley Raines, Adcock, Banfield and Polkinghorne GC: 2- Shaw, 1- Stanley and Ablett Leading Disposals: BL: 22- Black, 21- Redden and Rockliff GC: 21- Bock