QClash: The Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions will go head to head for the first time on Saturday in the inaugural AFLW QClash
Mutual respect won’t get in the way of a fierce rivalry as the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions prepare to do battle in the inaugural AFLW QClash.
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MUTUAL respect won’t get in the way of a fierce rivalry as the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions prepare to do battle in the inaugural AFLW QClash.
Seven Lions crossed to the Suns in the off-season, including Gold Coast co-captain Sam Virgo who believes that Saturday’s historic clash will bring out the best in Queensland football with both sides fresh off Round 2 wins.
“It’s going to be spicy because everyone wants to win,” she said.
“There are bragging rights at stake and it means a lot to all of us.
“This is the one you mark in the calendar.”
Virgo, who remains close friends with a number of her former Lions teammates, said she has refrained from firing out a few cheeky text messages to her past colleagues ahead of the Round 3 clash.
“The level of respect is there so we might save the text messages for after the game,” she said.
“Both teams are trying to prepare for the weekend so that’s no different this week.”
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Lion’s veteran Lauren Arnell said it wasn’t unusual for friends to go head to head as the AFLW expands although any loyalties would be parked on the sidelines once the siren sounds to commence play.
“There’s a huge amount of respect among these playing groups which is really important,” she said.
“Both teams will be intending to win this weekend.
“One of the best things about this competition is coming up against your mates and playing some really hard footy.”
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The contest becomes even more intriguing in the coaches box as Suns coach David Lake will have his first crack at outwitting his former mentor after relinquishing his role as Craig Starcevich’s midfield deputy to lead the Suns into a new dawn.
“When they go into battle, I’m sure there will be game faces but there’s also a hell of a lot of respect,” Lake said.
“There were rules set up around expansion and what it looked like and what it had to involve and that has unfolded and now we play them and the rivalry will grow.”
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Starcevich said the match presented a historic moment in Queensland footy but it was still business as usual for his side on the back of a come-from-behind win against Geelong on Sunday.
“It’s the first time we’ve played each other so you can get bragging rights but it’s only round three and we’re both trying to build a season so it’s either a step forward or a step back,” he said.
“Some games are different because there’s a little bit more build-up to them.”
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