Gold Coast Suns desperate to avoid eighth successive QClash loss to Brisbane Lions

The Gold Coast Suns need to end their QClash drought in their chase for a maiden AFL finals berth.

Suns coach Stuart Dew is hoping his side can end its QClash losing streak. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Seven successive AFL losses to the Brisbane Lions has failed to rob the Gold Coast Suns of the belief they can cause a QClash upset at the Gabba on Saturday night.

The stakes are high in the latest battle between Queensland’s two AFL clubs.

The Lions need to win to maintain their push for a top-four berth, while the 12th-placed Suns know a loss could prove to be a killer blow in their bid to play finals for the first time.

“They’re clearly heading towards the top four and we want to stay in the hunt, so there’s a fair bit on this one,” Suns coach Stuart Dew said.

The Suns haven’t beaten the Lions since a five-point victory at the Gabba in April 2018.

Since then, Brisbane has won seven on the trot against the Suns, including a 52-point thrashing of Dew’s men at Metricon Stadium earlier this season.

But the Suns coach said his players believed they could beat the Lions this weekend.

Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew says his Suns can rise to the QClash challenge. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio / AFL Photos via Getty Images

“The way we went about the game (against Brisbane) earlier in the year shows that (belief),” Dew said.

“We tried to take the game on and we got punished on turnovers, but we were keen to continue that forward movement and not wilt under the pressure.

“They definitely made us pay. They’re pretty potent up forward.

“(But) that’s the challenge. We’ve got to take batter care of the footy, and make sure we can hold our end up and take our opportunities as well. We kicked poorly that night as well.”

The Suns will also have to improve on their dismal showing last Sunday against Essendon to have any chance of beating Brisbane.

The Bombers, who beat the Lions a week earlier, thrashed Gold Coast by 48 points at Marvel Stadium.

“We want to make sure we play a better brand of footy than we did on the weekend. We were disappointed with that,” Dew said.

“It was our worst performance – no doubt. We broke down in a number of areas.”

However, Dew took heart from the Suns’ ability this year to bounce back from similarly poor performances with wins.

“(The 26-point April loss to) GWS is the game that springs to mind – then we rebounded (with a 30-point win) against Carlton,” he said.

“It’s a big challenge to go up to the Gabba and respond against (the Lions), but we need to and that’s where we’re putting our energy.

“No doubt they’ve had the better side (and) the better squad in previous times, and we’re trying to peg that back.

“We’ll make some changes. We’re trying to get the mix right. We’re still searching for that always. The opposition comes into that – what their strengths are and where they can exploit us.”

Originally published as Gold Coast Suns desperate to avoid eighth successive QClash loss to Brisbane Lions