AFL 2024: Undermanned Brisbane dominate QClash, beat Suns 79-45
The Lions turned to the youngsters out of necessity in their QClash win, while for the Suns it was a moment lost after so much promise, as Brisbane cruised to victory.
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Brisbane fans had been pleading with Chris Fagan to blood his youth this season and they got their wish on Sunday night – but not how the Lions coach drew it up.
In the blink of an eye all of Bruce Reville, Harry Sharp and Logan Morris were thrown into QClash26 as a spate of injuries threatened to derail Brisbane’s blistering start to the all-Queensland grudge match.
Instead the trio of youngsters invigorated the Lions’ evening – and season – as Fagan’s side produced a statement performance that won’t silence the doubters but should spark hope of a mid-season revival.
The Lions coach will wake up on Monday morning with a fresh set of injury headaches but he would have gone to bed with a smile after a backs-against-the-wall display led by his veterans and helped along by an exciting group of youngsters.
What was forecast to be a fierce contest instead devolved into a Brisbane bloodbath as the Lions ran roughshod over a Suns side that travelled up the M1 with genuine expectations of a victory.
The narrative appeared destined to play out in Gold Coast’s favour when Lions defender Brandon Starcevich was pulled from the side with a calf injury just moments before the opening bounce – one of a staggering four Brisbane players to be ruled out of the game before the 10-minute mark of the second quarter.
Callum Ah Chee’s injury in the loss to GWS last weekend opened the door for rookie Bruce Reville to make his AFL debut and the Lions duly celebrated the PNG product’s first start during the week.
But two players who didn’t expect to play big minutes were 10-gamer Harry Sharp and untried 2023 draftee, Logan Morris.
Sharp wore the sub vest in the warm-up but immediately shed it to replace the injured Starcevich, which meant Morris – who had already played a full game of VFL earlier in the day – was elevated in place of Sharp.
When Lincoln McCarthy then went down with a knee injury less than 10 minutes into the game, Morris had suddenly gone from spectator to starter.
The Lions endured a further two injuries in quick succession when Noah Answerth (concussion) and Darcy Gardiner (knee) also departed. But despite the carnage Brisbane looked a team possessed.
It was the usual suspects who led from the front and they dragged the youngsters along for the ride.
Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley and Hugh McCluggage completely dominated at the coalface and through the corridor. It was the best display of Brisbane footy since the stunning 20-minute blitzkrieg against Carlton in Opening Round.
But unlike that night the Lions kept the foot on the throat, even with a mere two fit players on the bench for more than 80 per cent of the contest.
If not for an almost comical third quarter that saw them kick 0.9 to the Suns’ 2.1, the game would have been put to bed before the final term.
For weeks the Lions’ ball movement inside 50 had been picked apart and criticised. On Sunday night it returned to levels that made them the most damaging forward-half side in the competition last season.
Fagan drew up a simple but devastating game plan to dissect the Suns through the middle of the Gabba.
At every opportunity they would look for either Dayne Zorko or Darcy Wilmot at the top of defensive 50 and begin their attack from the centre of the field. The Suns never cottoned on.
Zorko, the most hated man at Carrara, became the chief architect of the bloodbath and justly earned his maiden Marcus Ashcroft Medal as best-afield.
The evergreen 35-year-old finished with a career-best equalling 39 disposals – 35 of those kicks and almost all of them damaging.
All of Brisbane’s ball users had claims to the medal, such was the complete domination they held over one of the best midfield groups in the competition.
Lachie Neale had 24 touches to halftime and finished with 34. When the heat was on early he willed himself to each contest and looked every bit a prideful leader of men who hated what he had heard about his club throughout the week.
Josh Dunkley went to Matt Rowell and completely blanketed the Suns’ superstar. It was a match-up known to both parties and once again the Lions’ stopper won the battle.
It’s a blueprint other teams will almost certainly follow, given the importance of Rowell to Gold Coast’s game plan.
Hugh McCluggage became the point man in the middle of the ground to deliver daggers inside 50 and finished with a match-high nine score involvements alongside Dunkley.
Fagan and his leaders were questioned through the week after being shown a lesson by the Giants. This was exactly the response they needed.
Just as pleasing for Fagan will be the performances of Reville, Sharp and Morris who looked more than up to standard.
As for the Suns – this one hurt.
Damien Hardwick and his men truly believed this would be their moment to make a statement.
They had not won at the Gabba since round 5, 2018 and only once more since that night.
They were gifted a gilt-edged opportunity when the Lions were cruelled by injuries early – and yet it was the hosts who finished the match with all the running.
The final score flattered the Suns, who were comprehensively outmuscled and outclassed.
During the week Hardwick threw his support behind the under-fire Fagan, prophesying that at some point the magnifying glass would also fall back on him – as it always does in the footy world.
But the biggest questions of the Suns will be asked internally after their worst performance yet under the master coach.
SCOREBOARD
BRISBANE LIONS 5.5 8.7 8.17 10.19 (79)
GOLD COAST SUNS 2.1 2.4 4.5 6.9 (45)
GOALS – Lions: Daniher, Gardiner 2 Berry, Sharp, Morris, Lohman, Cameron, Dunkley 1
GOALS – Suns: King 3, Long, Ainsworth, Walter 1
BEST
Lions: Zorko, Neale, Dunkley, Andrews
Suns: King, Flanders, Miller
TURNER’S VOTES
3 votes Zorko
2 votes Neale
1 vote Dunkley
INJURIES
Lions – Gardiner (right knee), McCarthy (right knee), Answerth (concussion)
Suns – None
Crowd: 30,285
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