THERE'S now a genuine rivalry in Queensland after the Brisbane Lions broke their 2016 duck with a stunning 13-point QClash upset at the Gabba on Saturday night.
In a spiteful match marred by an ugly second quarter hit by Suns vice-captain Steven May, the Lions ran out deserved winners 14.23 (107) to 14.10 (94).
It was Gold Coast's first loss of the season and could have long-lasting effects after May's brain-snap.
With less than a minute remaining before half-time, the Gold Coast fullback ran straight past the ball, left his feet and launched a shoulder straight into Stefan Martin's head.
It collected Martin flush. He was stretchered off immediately with concussion and did not return.
Stef Martin knocked out after big hit from Steven May
But for the Lions, it was a rousing win that threatened to never happen after an inaccurate first half in front goal.
"It was a brave win, it was a win of character, which was important," Lions coach Justin Leppitsch said.
"Things weren't going our way in terms of shots on goal again … but at least we persisted and didn't let that disappointment get a hold of us, so I'm proud of the boys doing that.
"It would have been very disappointing walking off the ground not winning after having a game you thought you were much better than your opposition."
Pearce Hanley led a brilliant second-half revival and was named the Marcus Ashcroft medallist for best afield.
WATCH: Hanley lights up the QClash
He finished with 28 disposals and two goals, including a brilliant right foot snap late in the final term to give his team the lead.
Daniel Rich (22 touches) had his best game for the season and Dayne Zorko (23) also busted his backside for four quarters.
Tom Bell was superb in his fourth game for the club kicking two goals and finishing with 16 touches and seven marks.
The Lions kicked 10 goals to seven in the second half to finally capitalise on their good work.
They played harder than the Suns and deserved the victory.
Five talking points: Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast
The Lions won the disposals (367-307), contested possessions (154-132) and inside 50s by 66-48.
For Gold Coast, Tom Lynch played almost a lone hand with five goals, while Aaron Hall (26 possessions) and Gary Ablett (24) battled hard.
"I think we got beaten in all facets, all credit to Brisbane," Suns coach Rodney Eade.
"They played really well. It's an obvious statement but they deserved to win. Probably should have won by six or seven goals."
May's cheap shot sparked both the Gabba crowd of 20,041 and the 22 Lions players.
ICYMI - Steven May has been reported #AFLLionsSuns https://t.co/kOB9e8ur55
— AFL (@AFL) April 16, 2016
For the first time in the short QClash history, there was now a genuine villain and May was booed vociferously any time he got the ball.
The Lions were horrible in the first half in front of goal and almost kicked themselves out of the contest, kicking 4.15 to trail by eight points.
But things turned in the third, starting with Hanley's running goal from 50m and another set shot from Rohan Bewick from further out.
The final term was pulsating as teams traded goals.
MEDICAL ROOM
Brisbane Lions: Stefan Martin was concussed by May's hit but returned to the interchange area during the second half. He was smiling late in the match but will be assessed through the week.
Gold Coast: A number of Suns left the field, but there were no injuries out of the match. Dion Prestia got a "stinger" in his shoulder during the second quarter but returned, while Sam Day (hip) and Steven May (knee) also seemed hobbled at times but ran the game out.
NEXT UP
After a relatively friendly draw through the first month, Gold Coast faces a stiff exam next Saturday when they host North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium. After their first win of the year, the Lions head to Melbourne to play the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
All smiles for the Lions as they edge out their rivals. Photo: AFL Media
BRISBANE LIONS 3.6 4.15 10.20 14.23 (107)
GOLD COAST SUNS 4.2 7.5 12.7 14.10 (94)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Bell 2, Cutler 2, Hanley 2, Christensen, Bastinac, Green, Bewick, Martin, Zorko, Schache, Taylor
Gold Coast Suns: Lynch 5, Sexton 2, Rosa, Martin, Day, Cameron, Hall, Rischitelli, Malceski
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Hanley, Rich, Bell, Taylor, Robinson
Gold Coast Suns: Lynch, Malceski, Hall, Ablett, Day
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Brisbane: McStay (virus) replaced in selected side by Dawson, Martin (concussion), Gardiner (elbow)
Reports: Steven May (Gold Coast) for second-quarter incident with Stefan Martin (Brisbane Lions)
Umpires: Donlon, Chamberlain, Wallace
Official crowd: 20,041
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
GOALLions (Ryan Bastinac)
Pearce Hanley has eight lastquarter disposals to lead the fast finishing Lions. For Gold Coast, Aaron Hall has ten for the term.
BEHINDLions (Rushed)
GOALLions (Pearce Hanley)
Dayne Zorko is averaging a careerhigh 24 disposals this season, and had 20 up to three quarter time. However, he has yet to take possession of the ball in the final term, just laying the three tackles.
BEHINDSuns (Gary Ablett)
GOALLions (Tom Cutler)
After Brisbane won three of the first four clearances to start the final quarter, the Suns have won the last seven.
Deep into the last term, only Daniel Merrett of the Brisbane Lions has spent 100 per cent game time on the ground.
BEHINDLions (Ryan Lester)
Steven May has a gamehigh nine spoils for the Gold Coast Suns. The best Lion in this area has been Darcy Gardiner, who currently has seven for Brisbane.
GOALSuns (Aaron Hall)
GOALSuns (Alex Sexton)
Prior to today, the Lions were averaging 26 less contested possessions than their opponents per game, the worst differential of any side this season. Today they are well ahead in this area, 125 to 107.
BEHINDLions (Josh Walker)
Although he has scored just the two behinds himself today, Lion Daniel Rich leads all players on the ground with three goal assists.
GOALLions (Allen Christensen)
Mark, Play On (0-15m, Corridor)
BEHINDSuns (Alex Sexton)
BEHINDSuns (Aaron Hall)
Q4 is now underway.
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
BEHINDLions (Daniel Rich)
Brisbane Lions InterchangeDarcy Gardiner off due to an injury.
GOALLions (Josh Green)
GOALSuns (Tom J. Lynch)
Gary Ablett has averaged 31 disposals, seven tackles and five inside 50s against the Lions since 2011. In just shy of three quarters today, the Suns captain has 19 disposals, three tackles and three inside 50s.
GOALSuns (Tom J. Lynch)
GOALLions (Dayne Zorko)
BEHINDLions (Dayne Zorko)
GOALSuns (Jack Martin)
Jesse Lonergan currently has five contested possessions and four clearances. His numbers are well down on his last game against Brisbane, in Round 19 last season, when he recorded gamehigh tallies of 15 contested possessions and 10 clearances.
BEHINDLions (Tom Bell)
BEHINDSuns (Aaron Hall)
BEHINDLions (Ryan Lester)
GOALLions (Lewis Taylor)
Brisbane has lost the clearances by an average of nine per game this season, the worst differential of any side in the competition. However, they are leading this category at this point in today's game, 21 to 20.
GOALSuns (Matt Rosa)
Snap (30-40m, Right Side)
GOALLions (Tom Cutler)
BEHINDSuns (Nick Malceski)
GOALLions (Rohan Bewick)
Five Gold Coast goals, and four for the Suns, have resulted from a possession chain that began with the intercept of an opposition disposal.
BEHINDLions (Sam Mayes)
Gold Coast Suns InterchangeDion Prestia off due to an injury.
GOALSuns (Nick Malceski)
GOALLions (Pearce Hanley)
Brisbane has won the uncontested possession count in nine of its 10 games against the Suns, winning by an average of 47 per game. This streak may be in danger today, with Gold Coast holding the most slender of leads after the first half, 95 to 94.
Q3 is now underway.
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
BEHINDLions (Daniel Rich)
Brisbane Lions InterchangeTom Cutler replaces Stefan Martin and is possibly out for the game.
BEHINDLions (Pearce Hanley)
The Lions have seven of the last eight clearances, along with the last four inside 50s. However, they have just the one goal to show for their dominance during this time.
BEHINDLions (Josh Green)
BEHINDLions (Josh Green)
BEHINDLions (Rushed)
Brisbane Lions InterchangeRyan Bastinac replaces Dayne Zorko due to the blood rule.
After kicking 2.2 against the Cats last week, Brisbane recruit Tom Bell has another couple in the first half today.
GOALLions (Tom Bell)
GOALSuns (Clay Cameron)
BEHINDLions (Allen Christensen)
BEHINDLions (Rushed)
BEHINDSuns (Rushed)
Brooksby and Gold Coast teammate Alex Sexton lead the way with one percenters, with six and four respectively. The Suns as a whole lead Brisbane in this category 22 to 12.
BEHINDLions (Tom Bell)
Brisbane Lions InterchangeJosh Green replaces Ryan Lester due to the blood rule.
GOALLions (Tom Bell)
Lion Sam Mayes and Sun Gary Ablett lead all players on the ground with ten disposals. Both are also getting rid of the ball with 80 per cent efficiency.
BEHINDSuns (Aaron Hall)
From the last three inside 50s, the Suns have produced the opening two goals of the second term.
GOALSuns (Michael Rischitelli)
GOALSuns (Alex Sexton)
BEHINDSuns (Tom J. Lynch)
The Lions lead the spoil count 13 to nine, with Keegan Brooksby contributing the most with four. Two of Brooksby's spoils have resulted in Brisbane gaining possession.
BEHINDLions (Rushed)
Aaron Hall ranks No.1 in the competition for disposals, metres gained and uncontested possessions per game this season. He is a little down in touches so far today, with just the three opening term possessions.
Q2 is now underway.
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
BEHINDSuns (Tom J. Lynch)
BEHINDLions (Ryan Lester)
BEHINDLions (Rushed)
GOALLions (Josh Schache)
Brisbane Lions InterchangeLiam Dawson replaces Darcy Gardiner due to the blood rule.
The disposal count is locked at 54all, with both sides getting rid of the ball with similar efficiency, Brisbane at 74 per cent, the Suns at 76 per cent.
BEHINDLions (Pearce Hanley)
GOALLions (Stefan Martin)
GOALSuns (Tom J. Lynch)
BEHINDSuns (Nick Malceski)
After starting the season with hauls of four, five and four in the opening three rounds, Sun Tom Lynch is on track for another big day in front of goal with two majors in the early stages of the first term.
GOALSuns (Tom J. Lynch)
Mitch Robinson ranks No.1 at the Lions for disposals, contested possessions, first possessions and clearances per game this year. However he has just the one kick in ten minutes of game time to start today's match.
GOALSuns (Sam Day)
BEHINDLions (Rushed)
GOALLions (Tom Bell)
BEHINDLions (Josh Schache)
Brisbane leads the inside 50s six to one, however they have just the two behinds while Gold Coast converted a major from their only entry.
After laying 17 tackles in the opening three weeks of the 2016 season, Gold Coast midfielder Jesse Lonergan has three in the opening three minutes today.
GOALSuns (Tom J. Lynch)
BEHINDLions (Josh Walker)
Q1 is now underway.
Gold Coast won both QClash's last season by 64 and 14 points in that order.
However, Brisbane has won the uncontested possession count in nine of its 10 games against the Suns, winning the count by an average of 47 per game.
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
Ins for Suns: C.Ah Chee, K.Brooksby, T.Miller
Outs for Suns: T.McKenzie, R.Thompson, B.Matera
Ins for Lions: D.Rich, L.Dawson
Outs for Lions: D.McStay, B.Evans
Welcome to Gabba for the Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns Round 4 clash.