QClash between Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions full of niggle in 16th derby at Metricon Stadium

THE bitter rivalry between Gold Coast and Brisbane has reached new heights with the 16th edition of the QClash descending into a battle of kick and niggle.

Nick Robertson (second from left) of the Lions is seen grabbing Touk Miller (2nd from right) of the Suns during the Round 22 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, Saturday, August 18, 2018. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England.

THE bitter rivalry between Gold Coast and Brisbane has reached new heights with the 16th edition of the QClash descending into a battle of kick and niggle.

Saturday’s game between the two Queensland clubs was a sideshow at times at Metricon Stadium, as both sides took every opportunity to bait and berate each other in Brisbane’s 10.18 (78) to 11.8 (74) win.

Spot fires flashed across all areas of the ground and at the heart of most was Lions defender Nick Robertson and opposing midfielders Dayne Zorko and Touk Miller.

Robertson lit the fuse for a fiery QClash prelude by saying the Suns were soft and took a backward step when opposition teams brought the heat.

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But it was the Lions defender who started and finished the opening quarter on the turf.

He went to ground before the siren after a scuffle with Suns forward Alex Sexton, and found himself there again when Jack Bowes took a hanger on him going into the break.

The hatred between the two clubs has been growing in recent seasons and it was visible for all to see in Gold Coast’s final home game of the season.

Nick Robertson (second from left) of the Lions is seen grabbing Touk Miller (2nd from right) of the Suns during the Round 22 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, Saturday, August 18, 2018. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England.

Tensions threatened to boil over on multiple occasions, primarily following Sean Lemmen’s high shot on Brandon Starcevich in a marking contest midway through the second quarter.

Mitch Robinson and Lemmens collided in the immediate aftermath, while Zorko was floored metres away after being pushed into Sexton.

The match-up — and feud — between Zorko and Miller will be one the QClash can be built on for years to come.

Touk Miller of the Suns clashes with Mitch Robinson of the lions during the round 22 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium on August 18, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. Picture: Jason O'Brien, Getty Images.

Zorko’s teammates came to his aid and the Suns followed suit as Miller successfully kept the Lions ball user, who recorded 17 disposals, out of the contest for a second straight time.

The superficial rivalry once spruiked by both teams in the early stages of the M1 derby has been replaced by a legitimate conflict.

Lions coach Chris Fagan warned Robertson he had to back up his midweek words and while he finished the game with his head in bandages, it was his teammates who were left exposed after crumbling at times under the Suns pressure and constant taunting.

Ultimately Brisbane’s superior scoring opportunities enabled them to scrap themselves to a 10th derby win.

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