QClash derby is a special game for Daniel Rich

Daniel Rich is Brisbane’s sole survivor from the inaugural derby against Gold Coast and recalls how an unlikely teammate lit the fuse for an explosive contest.

Daniel Rich is the only member of Brisbane’s squad who played in the inaugural QClash. Picture: AAP

Brisbane’s sole surviving member of QClash 1 can distinctly remember the build-up to the first derby.

But Daniel Rich reckons he may have wiped the actual game from memory.

Growing up in Perth, Rich loved the Western derbies between hated rivals West Coast and Fremantle.

So when the Gold Coast Suns joined the competition in 2011 he was immediately looking forward to the new rivalry with the club many, including inaugural Suns coach Guy McKenna, referred to as Brisbane’s little brother.

There was a real Brisbane flavour to the Suns in the early days.

Brisbane’s chairman through the premiership years, Graeme Downie, was on the GC17 bid team that secured the licence for the Suns.

Triple premiership Lion Marcus Ashcroft was footy manager and his former teammate Shaun Hart was in development, team of the century defender Matthew Kennedy ran the fitness program while Barry Lowe – Leigh Matthews’ trusted team manager through three premierships – also shifted back down the highway to be property manager.

Daniel Rich celebrates one of his goals in the first QClash in 2011. Picture: Darren England

But it was the defections of then reigning best and fairest Michael Rischitelli and mercurial utility Jared Brennan that ruffled feathers at the Gabba.

On the eve of the game, Lions Hall of Famer Simon Black, generally the most conservative of media performers shocked his teammates when he dropped a bombshell and labelled the pair mercenaries.

“I remember the build-up more than the game to be honest,’’ Rich said.

“Growing up in WA the derbies were massive and I remember being quite excited about the potential for what it could turn into.

“Then Blackie made his comments, he is probably one of the last blokes I would have thought of to say something like that, I don’t know if it was tongue in cheek or whether he meant it, but to be honest it was good.’’

However the barb fired up the Suns and in particular Brennan, who won the inaugural Marcus Ashcroft medal as the best on ground as the Suns claimed an eight-point upset.

Rich pushes Gary Ablett off the ball in 2017. Picture: Getty Images

Rich kicked three goals that day but when quizzed about the game he showed his memories were hazy when he revealed he thought the Lions had won.

“Maybe I’ve actually wiped that game from my memory,’’ he joked.

Suns veterans David Swallow, Sam Day, Jarrod Harbrow, Rischitelli and Pearce Hanley, who wore the Lions strip, are the other survivors of the first derby.

That game was a shootout but since then the majority have been hard-fought contested battles.

“It has always been that way, it doesn’t really matter how things are going on the ladder and that is similar to the other derbies in the competition,’’ Rich said.

“We can’t relax. We are under no illusion it is going to be a tough game.

“It doesn’t matter where the teams are, you have to be at your best in these games.’’

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