MATTHEW Leuenberger kicked a goal inside the final 20 seconds to salvage a draw for the Brisbane Lions in a topsy-turvy NAB Challenge match against Gold Coast at a humid Metricon Stadium on Friday night.
Leuenberger got a chip pass from skipper Tom Rockliff and ran into the open goal to level the scores at 1.7.12 (63) to 0.8.15 (63) with just seconds remaining.
Gold Coast led by 23 points at the final change before the Lions kicked the first four goals of the final term to snatch the lead.
The Suns looked like they would hold on when impressive first-year player Touk Miller snapped a terrific goal with five minutes remaining to regain the lead, but Leuenberger had the final say.
"Our effort in the third quarter was probably the most disappointing it's been so far (this pre-season), but the boys fought it back and it got back to where we want it to be. It was a fluctuating game," Lions coach Justin Leppitsch said.
"It was probably a classic last game before round one where it was a little bit scrappy, a little bit sloppy and the intensity wavered a little.
"We should go into our round one game full of confidence that we've ticked a lot of boxes."
While the Lions were pleased with their final quarter run, the Suns dominated for large periods of the contest despite being severely undermanned.
They were missing a host of first choice players, including skipper Gary Ablett (shoulder), midfielders Jaeger O'Meara (knees) and Jack Martin (ill), and big forwards Charlie Dixon (ankle) and Tom Lynch (rested).
But it made little difference, as their midfield got right on top, holding the Lions goalless in the second and third quarters before tiring in the last.
Harley Bennell (31 disposals) was terrific after half-time, while Dion Prestia (29) was his usual prolific self in his first pre-season match.
Nick Malceski (28), Kade Kolodjashnij (26) and David Swallow (25) were also strong contributors.
"Overall I was pleased with our effort," Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade said.
"I thought we worked really hard. We turned the ball over a lot and the fact we were able to defend off those turnovers was pleasing.
"We've just got to get better with our ball use and our method at times, our decision-making."
Gold Coast dominated the clearances (43-31) and inside 50s (62-49), but struggled to really put their arch-rivals away.
The Lions kept their unbeaten pre-season intact, but it came at a cost, with a worrying right shoulder injury to rugged young defender Darcy Gardiner.
Gardiner sustained the injury during the first term when laying a shepherd, and after briefly returning to the field in the second quarter, eventually succumbed and saw no further action.
He will have scans in the coming days to determine the extent of the injury.
After a strong win over Geelong and a poor loss against GWS, the Suns tightened the screws ahead of their round one match against Melbourne on April 4.
They will be without Dixon and Lynch (suspended) for that match, but showed their midfield was good enough to provide a small forward line with plenty of chances.
The Lions had plenty of ball, but it was often scrappy.
Allen Christensen kicked a goal with his first touch from a nice lead and mark, while Dayne Beams (31) continued his fine pre-season.
It was an at-times painful first half to watch, with both teams setting up defensive structures that were hard to penetrate.
The humidity was so extreme, the AFL's heat policy was partially invoked, with no substitutions and extra breaks between quarters.
It made handling difficult, with both teams guilty of coughing up a host of easy possessions.
Dayne Beams was again impressive with 31 disposals. Picture: AFL Media
WHAT WE LEARNED
Gold Coast: Maybe, just maybe, the Suns won't be so reliant on skipper Gary Ablett this season. While his absence during the pre-season hasn't been ideal for preparation and continuity, it may have been a blessing in disguise long-term. Not only can the Suns rely on David Swallow and Dion Prestia for consistent midfield output, but Harley Bennell, Michael Rischitelli, Mitch Hallahan and Jarrod Harbrow all look set for strong seasons.
Brisbane Lions: The Lions are going to be far more difficult to score against this season. In their three pre-season matches they've conceded just eight, four and eight goals, a far cry from the average of 100 points they coughed up each week in 2014. It's not just the back six – far from it – but the Lions seem better organized all over the field, and despite being outplayed for much of the night, did not let their opponents come back into the corridor or play-on as quickly.
NEW FACES
Gold Coast: If he hadn't done so already, rookie Adam Saad has played himself into the Suns' round one team with another solid display. There is room to elevate the attacking defender to the senior list, and his 15 disposals were again full of dash and polish before he was unfortunately carried off with a heavy head knock late in the final term. Draftees Touk Miller and Jarrod Garlett also appear destined to play the first match of the premiership season. Miller is a defensive terrier and put a pass on the chest of Alex Sexton for a goal, while Garlett is clever and exciting. Nick Malceski played his best game of the pre-season, while Mitch Hallahan chalked up 19 disposals.
Brisbane Lions: He might have missed much of the pre-season while recoveing from back surgery, but Allen Christensen slotted in beautifully. He kicked a goal with his first kick and finished with 15 touches. Dayne Beams continued his supreme pre-season, racking up another 31 disposals, while Mitch Robinson is a big reason why the forward pressure is so impressive. Liam Dawson and Jaden McGrath had quiet games in limited minutes.
GOLD COAST 0.2.3 0.3.8 0.7.11 0.8.15 (63)
BRISBANE LIONS 1.2.6 1.2.7 1.2.9 1.7.12 (63)
SUPERGOALS
Gold Coast:
Brisbane Lions: Zorko
GOALS
Gold Coast: Matera 2, Hallahan, Russell, Sexton, Bennell, Miller, Gorringe
Brisbane Lions: Leuenberger 2, McStay, Christensen, Bewick, Rockliff, Martin
BEST
Gold Coast: Bennell, Prestia, Shaw, Broughton, Swallow, Malceski, Miller
Brisbane Lions: D.Beams, Aish, C.Beams, Clarke, Rich, Martin
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Saad (concussion)
Brisbane Lions: Gardiner (shoulder)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Findlay, Ryan
Official crowd: 5581 at Metricon Stadium
This is the first tie in an official preseason match since 2011 (St Kilda drew with Essendon).
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
GOAL LionsMatthew Leuenberger scores a goal from a Turnover.
BEHIND SunsMatt Shaw scores a behind from a Turnover.
Tonight's match has not been a showpiece of goals on the run. Gold Coast has kicked 2 goals and 9 behinds from open play, and Brisbane Lions have kicked one goal and six behinds on the run.
BEHIND SunsBrandon Matera scores a behind from a Turnover.
BEHIND SunsJarrod Harbrow scores a behind from a Stoppage.
Gold Coast has had the ascendancy across scores sourced from stoppages, kicking 4.5 to 1.3 tonight. This has been a strength of the Suns this preseason, averaging 17 points more than their opposition per game in this metric (ranked #1 in the league).
GOAL SunsTouk Miller scores a goal from a Stoppage.
Brisbane Lions have taken three marks inside forward 50 this term, after recording three such marks in the first three quarters combined.
GOAL LionsTom Rockliff scores a goal from a Turnover.
The ball has been in the Brisbane Lions' forward half for 73 per cent of the final term.
BEHIND LionsJames Aish scores a behind from a Turnover.
In this year's NAB Challenge, Brisbane Lions are one winone loss in final quarters, with a net margin of 2 points. Gold Coast's record is no wins and two losses, with a net margin of -28 points.
The quality of Gold Coast's ball use has slipped in the final term. By foot, only 35 per cent of their disposals have been effective this quarter. Conversely, Brisbane kicking effectiveness is at 64 per cent.
GOAL LionsStefan Martin scores a goal from a Turnover.
Gold Coast Suns InterchangeLuke Russell was changed with Adam Saad due to an injury.
BEHIND LionsMitch Robinson scores a behind from a Turnover.
BEHIND SunsDion Prestia scores a behind from a Stoppage.
Brisbane Lions have capitalised on some Gold Coast errors early in the last quarter. All of the Lions' scores (2.1) have come from intercept possessions, with the Suns turning over the ball nine times from 19 disposals.
GOAL LionsRohan Bewick scores a goal from a Turnover.
GOAL LionsMatthew Leuenberger scores a goal from a Turnover.
BEHIND LionsJosh Green scores a behind from a Turnover.
Q4 is now underway.
Brisbane has recorded 178 disposals since their last goal, at the 30minute mark of the first quarter.
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
All one way traffic in the third quarter for Gold Coast, with big discrepancies across many key indicators. They won 8229 uncontested possessions for the quarter, kicking 4.3 from 15 forward 50 entries.
Redden is yet to touch the ball in the third quarter, after 20 disposals in the first half.
GOAL SunsBrandon Matera scores a goal from a Stoppage.
GOAL SunsMitch Hallahan scores a goal from a Stoppage.
Gold Coast is winning far more of the ball on the outside of the contest this quarter, leading the uncontested possession tally 4722.
BEHIND SunsAaron Hall scores a behind from a Turnover.
GOAL SunsLuke Russell scores a goal.
Early in the third quarter and the Gold Coast's dominance is set up by their superior ball use. The Suns' disposal effectiveness is 70 per cent, compared to the Lions at 47 per cent.
BEHIND SunsAlex Sexton scores a behind.
Jack Redden racked up 20 disposals in the first half, which is the equal most in the first half by any player in this year's preseason (Leigh Montagna did likewise in Round 2).
BEHIND LionsDaniel McStay scores a behind.
BEHIND LionsLewis Taylor scores a behind from a Turnover.
BEHIND SunsHarley Bennell scores a behind from a Stoppage.
GOAL SunsHarley Bennell scores a goal.
Q3 is now underway.
Brisbane Lions have registered 226 disposals in the first half, which is the highest tally by any team so far in this year's NAB Challenge.
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
This is the second time in this year's NAB Challenge that Brisbane Lions have been kept to 0.1 in a quarter, after the same score in the final quarter of the Round 1 match against St Kilda.
Sexton's goal (kicked from outside the 50 metre arc) was the first that Gold Coast have kicked from further than 15 metres from goal.
GOAL SunsAlex Sexton scores a goal from a Turnover.
RUSHED BEHIND to Suns from a Turnover.
Brisbane Lions have recorded five of the past forward 50 entries this quarter, after Gold Coast recorded 12 of the previous 13 inside 50s.
RUSHED BEHIND to Suns from a Turnover.
Gold Coast has recorded nine of the last 10 inside 50 entries. This has come partly as a result of winning the ball in the midfield from Brisbane turnovers eight times, compared with the Lions' three intercepts.
BEHIND SunsMichael Rischitelli scores a behind from a Turnover.
Gold Coast has applied 20 effective spoils so far in the match, compared with Brisbane's six. Thompson and May have led the way with four apiece.
BEHIND SunsZac Smith scores a behind.
BEHIND SunsMichael Rischitelli scores a behind from a Turnover.
RUSHED BEHIND to Lions from a Stoppage.
Q2 is now underway.
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
Dion Prestia has had a huge first quarter, registering 12 disposals, winning two clearances, and kicking the ball inside 50 on three occasions.
GOAL LionsDaniel McStay scores a goal from a Stoppage.
Justin Clarke has only had the ball five times in the first quarter, however on four of those occasions he has marked the ball from a Gold Coast kick.
Brisbane Lions InterchangeMarco Paparone was changed with Darcy Gardiner due to an injury.
Gold Coast has already taken four marks inside forward 50 in the first quarter, after taking six in total in their previous two NAB Challenge matches.
BEHIND LionsDayne Beams scores a behind.
RUSHED BEHIND to Lions from a Kickin.
BEHIND SunsDaniel Gorringe scores a behind from a Turnover.
BEHIND LionsDayne Beams scores a behind from a Stoppage.
Gold Coast's first two goals have directly come as a result of turnovers by Brisbane Lions. Prior to tonight's match, Gold Coast only averaged 14 points per game as a result of opposition turnovers, ranked 18th in the league.
GOAL SunsBrandon Matera scores a goal from a Turnover.
SUPERGOAL LionsDayne Zorko scores a supergoal from a Turnover.
RUSHED BEHIND to Lions.
RUSHED BEHIND to Lions from a Turnover.
Gold Coast have started well around the stoppages, winning eight of the first 10 clearances in the game.
GOAL SunsDaniel Gorringe scores a goal from a Turnover.
BEHIND SunsAlex Sexton scores a behind from a Stoppage.
Brisbane Lions have recorded 33 disposals to 21 by Gold Coast. Only eight Suns have touched the ball, compared with 17 players from the Lions.
GOAL LionsAllen Christensen scores a goal from a Turnover.
RUSHED BEHIND to Lions from a Turnover.
BEHIND SunsHarley Bennell scores a behind from a Stoppage.
Q1 is now underway.
Gold Coast has beaten Geelong and lost to Greater Western Sydney in its previous two encounters. The Suns have struggled to find targets inside forward 50 in these matches, averaging only 3 marks inside 50 per game (ranked #18 in the league).
Brisbane Lions have won both their previous preseason matches in this year's NAB Challenge. The Lions' work at the coalface has been a feature of their wins, averaging 10 more clearances per game than their opposition (ranked #1 in the league).
Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast have met three times in official preseason matches since 2012, with the Lions victorious on all three occasions.
Changes for Lions Ins: A.Christensen Outs: B.Staker, T.Cutler, S.Mayes, N.Robertson, L.McGuane, Z.O'Brien
Changes for Suns Ins: J.Harbrow, A.Sexton, L.Russell, D.Prestia, M.Hallahan, R.Thompson, S.May, A.Hall, M.Rischitelli Outs: D.Stanley, J.Leslie, TJ.Lynch, A.Boston, J.Martin, K.Brooksby, J.Glenn, J.Lonergan, S.Lemmens, J.Ellis, J.Hall
Welcome to Metricon Stadium for the Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions Round 4 clash.