Australian Football

Match Report

Gold Coast has established itself as the "power" team of the AFL in Queensland with a convincing win against Brisbane in the seventh "Q Clash" at Carrara on Saturday.

In very warm conditions, the Suns outscored the Lions by a goal in each of the first two quarters to lead by 14 points at the long break before flexing their collective muscle in the second half to kick 12 goals to six and running out victors by a massive 53 points.

Once again it was prolific skipper Gary Ablett who led the way for the Suns. The "Little Master" had 38 disposals and kicked three goals to lead the way. He received fine support from Dion Prestia (32 touches, five tackles) and Jaegar O'Meara (24 possessions and a goal). For Brisbane, too much was left to too few but Tom Rockliff (35 disposals, 11 marks and three goals), Jack Redden (27 touches, eight tackles) and Pearce Hanley (30 possessions and a goal) gave their all and could hold their heads high. Veteran champion Jonathan Brown really struggled throughout the match. He had just four possessions and did not kick a goal, prompting several pundits to question if he has passed his "use-by" date.

The loss would have been a bitter disappointment for the Lions' hierarchy. Though Brisbane had lost its first two games, it had been competitive against top sides Hawthorn and Geelong being within eight points of both sides in the third quarter of their matches. But the second half off this match was very poor and the Lions sit winless in 16th place on the ladder, with tough matches against Port Adelaide and Richmond to come.

In contrast, things are looking good for Gold Coast who are inside the eight. The Suns will face a big test against Hawthorn at home Saturday before playing winnable games against Melbourne and GWS in rounds five and six.

GOALS
Gold Coast: Day 4; Ablett 3; Swallow, Matera 2; Harbrow, Lemmens, Kolodjashnij, Shaw, Lynch, O’Meara
Brisbane: Rockliff 3; Paparone 2; Taylor, Aish, Mayes, Hanley

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Gold Coast: Ablett, May, Day, Swallow, O’Meara, Kolodjashnij
Brisbane: Rockliff, Paparone, Moloney

BEST - BRISBANETIMES.COM.AU
Gold Coast: Ablett, Prestia, Swallow, May, O'Meara, Day
Brisbane: Rockliff, Redden, Moloney, Golby

INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Brisbane: Rich (knee)

SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Aaron Hall replaced by Matt Shaw in the fourth quarter.
Brisbane: Daniel Rich (knee) replaced by James Aish in the second quarter.

UMPIRES: Ryan, Kamolins and Jeffery

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Dermott Brereton, David King, Barry Hall