Brisbane Lions vs Gold Coast Suns Preview
Brisbane come in hot off a 67-point win over Hawthorn, but the Round 23 ‘Q’clash against the Suns shapes as a genuine danger game.
The Lions need to win to hold their place in the top four and Gold Coast suddenly playing with renewed belief after snapping their 10-match losing streak.
Brisbane were back near their best with a 67-point win against Hawthorn, but it is difficult to completely trust them after their stunning 76-point loss to Carlton just a fortnight ago.
Gold Coast will arrive at the GABBA with nothing to lose and an eye firmly on building towards 2027 and rediscovered some of their mojo in Canberra, grinding out a character-building two-point win over GWS in horrible conditions.
They have also been competitive against quality opposition over the past month, including pushing Melbourne to nine points the previous week, and their renewed emphasis on clearance and contested football gives them a chance to make Brisbane work much harder than the 35.5-point line for the Round 23 clash suggests.
Matt Rowell looms as the key to Gold Coast remaining competitive after producing 40 disposals and 17 clearances against GWS following 30 disposals and eight clearances against Melbourne. He can continue that hot streak with 30+ disposals, while Ben King can kick 3+ goals after booting two in each of his past two matches and four in his most recent meeting with Brisbane.
- Gold Coast’s last four matches have been decided by 13 points or less.
- The Suns were 66-point winners over the Lions at a similar stage last season.
- Matt Rowell has picked up 70 disposals in his past two matches.
- Ben King kicked four goals in the most recent match between the two sides.
Head to Head
Brisbane have won five of the past six matches between the two sides and were 31-point winners over the Suns on the Gold Coast back in Round 13. They have won their past eight against Gold Coast at the GABBA by an average margin of 44 points.
Standout player performances in the recent head to heads have come from:
- Lachie Neale (Lions)- 37 disposals in the most recent meeting, averaging 33 in his last five against the Suns, hitting 24+ in four of those.
- Noah Anderson (Suns)- 25+ disposals in his past four against Brisbane
- Ben King (Suns)- four goals in the most recent head to head.
- Oscar Allen (Lions)- as an Eagle he kicked 2+ goals in his past five against Gold Coast
Brisbane Lions Form Analysis
Brisbane rebounded from a 76-point loss at the hands of Carlton with an emphatic 67-point victory over Hawthorn at the GABBA in Round 22. They remain deadlocked on 14 wins with Adelaide and Melbourne, sandwiched between those two in 5th spot on the ladder.
The Lions score of 125 against Hawthorn made it seven from nine that they have kicked 100 or more at their home ground this season. The total points in those matches has averaged 196. Only two of those matches have been against sides outside of the top eight, resulting in 67 and 59 point wins.
Will Ashcroft (39 disposals) and Lachie Neale (35) found plenty of footy against the Hawks with Kai Lohmann and Logan Morris feasting up forward, combining for nine goals. Lohmann has booted 20 goals from his last six matches, while Ashcroft has had 30+ in his past six.
Brisbane Lions Team News
No injuries to come out of the demolition of Hawthorn. Kaidean Coleman and Hugh McCluggage failed to overcome niggles and missed that match. Both are a chance to return but Ty Gallop remains suspended until Round 24.
Gold Coast Suns Form Analysis
Gold Coast finally snapped their 10-match losing streak with a stirring two-point win over GWS last weekend, prevailing 79-77 in tough, wet conditions in Canberra. The Suns showed plenty of character to withstand a late Giants charge to record just their second away win of the season.
Matt Rowell produced an astonishing performance with a career-high 40 disposals, 17 clearances and 16 tackles, thriving in the contested conditions. It continued an excellent individual run after he collected 30 disposals and eight clearances in Gold Coast’s nine-point loss to Melbourne the previous week, while he has now recorded 25+ disposals in each of his past six matches.
Ben King booted two goals and is second in the race for the Coleman Medal, seven behind Sydney’s Charlie Curnow. The Suns rediscovered their clearance and contested possession game, something that has deserted them in their losing streak.
Gold Coast Suns Team News
Gold Coast reported no injuries from the win over GWS. Sam Collins was a late withdrawal against the Giants but is expected to return this week. The Suns are also experimenting with their line-up looking towards 2027, with Leo Lombard spending more time on-ball and Ethan Read being used on the wing and pushing forward. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan booted five goals at VFL level but is unlikely to get a look in.