Lions Roar Past Suns to Secure Preliminary Final Spot
It was billed as one of the biggest games Queensland footy had ever seen. Brisbane, the reigning premiers, were facing off against their state rivals, the Gold Coast Suns, in a semi-final at a packed Gabba. The Suns had finally stepped into the finals spotlight with a thrilling elimination win the week before, and there was hope that their September run might continue. But by the final siren, that dream had been crushed, and the Lions had reasserted themselves as the dominant force in Queensland football.
Gold Coast actually came out firing. Ben King clunked an early contested mark and nailed the opening goal, followed soon after by a classy finish from skipper Noah Anderson. For a brief moment, it felt like the Suns might pull off something special. The Lions, though, weren’t rattled. They steadied quickly, wrestled back control, and by quarter-time had nudged in front by a single point. That tight first stanza gave fans hope, but what followed was a ruthless reminder of Brisbane’s experience and firepower.
Also Read:- Brighton Shake-Up as Zubimendi Link Emerges with New Leadership
- Oxford United Face Leicester City in First Clash in Decades
The second quarter was where the contest shifted. Brisbane’s midfield, led by Josh Dunkley, Hugh McCluggage, and young star Will Ashcroft, turned the screws. Dunkley was simply relentless, laying tackle after tackle – 18 by the end, a finals record. Ashcroft brought polish and creativity, bagging two goals to go with his 28 touches. Gold Coast’s much-hyped engine room suddenly looked second best, and the Lions piled on six goals to two in the term to open up a 25-point half-time lead.
From there, the match became a tale of Brisbane’s control and Gold Coast’s wasted chances. The Suns kept pushing but couldn’t convert, their errors and inaccuracy only compounding the pressure. By three-quarter time the margin had blown out to 43 points, and the game was all but over. The Gabba crowd knew it, and the Lions played with the confidence of a side that had been here many times before.
There were memorable moments sprinkled through the night – Cam Rayner’s booming goal from the centre square, Kai Lohmann celebrating his own goal with a cheeky rub of his freshly shaved head, and youngster Logan Morris feeding off the crowd’s energy with a double strike. But there was also the bittersweet sight of David Swallow, Gold Coast’s loyal servant and original Suns recruit, finishing his career on 249 games. His farewell came on a night when the Suns simply ran out of legs against a hardened finals outfit.
By the end, the scoreboard told the story: Brisbane 14.16 (100) to Gold Coast 6.11 (47). A 53-point drubbing that ended the Suns’ historic season and sent the Lions into a preliminary final against Collingwood at the MCG. For Brisbane, redemption after last week’s stumble against Geelong was achieved. For Gold Coast, the dream was cut short – but the signs of growth suggest this won’t be their last September.
Read More:
0 Comments