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The Gold Coast Suns have the bragging rights over their fellow Queenslanders the Brisbane Lions after a 26-point win on Saturday.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Gold Coast Suns 22.7.139
Brisbane Lions 17.11.113
The Gold Coast Suns will be looking to take back local bragging rights in Queensland when they face the Brisbane Lions in the latest edition of the Q-Clash at Metricon Stadium. Join us at The Roar from 4:35pm (AEST) to follow all of the action.
2016 started like a dream for the Gold Coast Suns thanks to a couple of strong early wins and it looked as if it would be a breakout year for the club. But things soon took a turn for the worse as injuries and suspensions to a number of their best players sent the club on a ten-game losing streak.
The struggling expansion club finally broke their barren run with an upset win over the Saints last week and it looks as if Rodney Eade’s men could cause a few more of these upsets as a number of their best 22 return from injury and suspension.
Just like their fellow Queenslanders, the Brisbane Lions have had a forgettable 2016 season. They sit in 17th spot on the ladder, with only percentage putting them above the last-placed Bombers.
The Lions’ only win this season came in the first edition of the Q-Clash back in Round 4 when they claimed a 13-point win over the Suns. For a club that has been rebuilding for a while now, the Lions haven’t shown many signs of improvement this year although one of their recent star recruits, Dayne Beams, missing the majority of the year through injury.
A key factor in this game will be whether the Brisbane defence, led by Daniel Merrett, can stop Gold Coast spearhead Tom Lynch who has had a terrific year despite his team’s struggles. If Merrett can keep Lynch relatively quiet then the Suns will need to find other avenues to goal and they haven’t had too many of those in 2016.
The battle in the midfield will also be crucial with the two captains, Gary Ablett Jnr and Tom Rockliff, set to go head-to-head in a battle of the ball magnets. With Ablett beginning to recapture some of his trademark best form, the Lions will have their hands full in containing the little maestro.
Prediction
Both these teams have had a tough year but the Suns are starting to get more and more of their best 22 back on the park, so they will win this Q-Clash.
Suns by 20 points.
Will the Suns continue to get their season back on track or can the Lions get their second win of the year? Join us on The Roar from 4:35pm (AEST) to follow the action.
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