AFL round 20: Brisbane Lions withstand Gold Coast in QClash to move to second on ladder

Brisbane Lions have launched into the AFL’s top-two and left Gold Coast needing a miracle to play finals for the first time. CALLUM DICK breaks down the QClash and how Damien Hardwick played into Brisbane’s hands.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – JULY 27: Bodhi Uwland of the Suns competes for the ball against Callum Ah Chee of the Lions during the round 20 AFL match between Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions at People First Stadium, on July 27, 2024, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Only a week after Brisbane pipped raging premiership favourites Sydney by two points in an instant classic, it might seem odd to declare Saturday’s QClash victory over Gold Coast as its best of the season.

But in the face of absolute adversity, against a team formerly unbeaten on its home deck and with a point to prove, the Lions underlined their premiership credentials.

With their eighth-consecutive victory they rose to outright second on the ladder and a straight home run through the finals is now in their hands with four home-and-away games to go.

This was their gutsiest victory since the earlier QClash encounter this season, when they lost Darcy Gardiner and Lincoln McCarthy to ACL injuries mere minutes after Brandon Starcevich was ruled out with a calf strain in the warm-up.

How's the view up there Ben? 👑#AFLSunsLionspic.twitter.com/gBf07zjleB

— AFL (@AFL) July 27, 2024

Cam Rayner gets the plaudits from his Brisbane teammates after booting a goal. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

There were no midgame injuries to overcome on this occasion. All the damage had been done beforehand.

Fielding a makeshift centre-half back in Eric Hipwood and with veteran Ryan Lester the only recognised key defender left standing, Brisbane somehow found a way to do the previously impossible and knock the Suns off at home.

“It was a bit unusual having all your tall defenders not available at one time,” Lions coach Chris Fagan said.

“To see Eric go back, he looked a little bit ‘all at sea’ to start with, King probably could have got a few early, but then got better as the game went on I think, and ended with eight spoils and five intercept marks, and kicked a goal.

“It was good, and Jaxon Prior came in and probably played his best game of AFL footy and showed he’s a lot more comfortable at the level now.”

Fagan’s coaching acumen had been questioned earlier this season but the Brisbane box moved all the right magnets on Saturday night.

They had help.

Damien Hardwick’s refusal to deploy the tag again came back to bite the Suns with Lachie Neale left to roam free all night.

The Brownlow fancy no doubt banked more votes with a 35-disposal, 10-clearance outing that had him neck-and-neck in the Marcus Ashcroft Medal voting.

But it was the ageless veteran Dayne Zorko who made it back-to-back QClash best on grounds, winning on a countback from Neale, with another devastating kicking display across halfback.

Hardwick had declared midweek the Suns would have a better plan to defend Zorko than earlier in the season when he cut them to pieces to claim his maiden Marcus Ashcroft Medal.

Whatever those plans were, they didn’t pay dividends. The 35-year-old, who has featured in more QClashes than any other player, finished with 32 disposals – 28 of those kicks – and a game-high nine score involvements.

Cam Rayner continued his remarkable purple patch of form with two goals from 25 disposals and had his own claims to best on ground, on a night of celebration for the wounded Lions.

It was a victory to further prove the growth within Fagan’s playing group over the course of a rollercoaster season.

At the core of Brisbane’s early season woes were the spate of injuries, particularly in defence, which came at such a rapid pace the Lions simply could not keep up.

In 2023 they boasted one of the most settled sides in the AFL. The backline was a measure of consistency, missing only a handful of games between the starting back six or seven.

So when the injuries came thick and fast this season, it took the Lions time to reconfigure their system. They simply had not been stressed like this before.

But an ever-present through it all was Harris Andrews, who alongside co-captain Neale has clearly been Brisbane’s best player this season, followed closely by the evergreen Zorko who at age 35 must be in the All-Australian conversation.

Charlie finds some space 🎯#AFLSunsLionspic.twitter.com/MeNTJQgrvN

— AFL (@AFL) July 27, 2024

Andrews had been the glue that held Brisbane’s back six together even when the pieces around him were falling apart.

But against the least efficient forward line in the AFL over the past month, the Lions didn’t need their skipper to get the job done.

All the stars had seemingly aligned for the Suns to strike. Brisbane suffered a calamity of key defensive injuries right as their rivals needed to rediscover their goal-kicking form.

Instead, even with the Lions’ first four key defenders out, the Suns still failed to fire forward of centre.

“Our recruiters have done a great job over the last few years to put this group together and we’re just discovering now that when it’s being tested for depth, there’s a bit there,” Fagan said.

“It is one of the great things that has come out of this season so far. There’s a long way to go of the season, and we haven’t done anything yet, but we’re giving ourselves a chance - which is probably after seven rounds was looking like it wasn’t going to happen. It’s amazing what’s been done after the last couple of months.”

Joe Daniher and Kai Lohmann celebrate. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The curious case of Ben King continues. Previously one of the most reliable set shots in the competition this season, the Suns’ spearhead has had a serious case of the yips over the past fortnight.

Two set shots he would have nailed a few weeks ago instead sprayed wide in a crucial first-quarter patch that Gold Coast needed to cash-in on and the theme continued throughout the match.

“I thought King was dominant early (against Hipwood) … I was pretty happy with Kingy’s game, he took four contested marks and was damaging inside 50, he just didn’t hit the scoreboard as much as we would have liked,” Hardwick said.

“I’ve dealt with enough key forwards along the way, they’ve got to refine their technique. His momentum’s not going in the right direction, he knows that and he’ll refine that and get better. One thing I will say – at least he’s putting himself in position of shots, he’s not hitting the scoreboard but he’s in a pretty good place Kingy.”

Lachie Neale made the most of Damien Hardwick’s reluctance to use a tag. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The equation is now crystal clear for Damien Hardwick’s side: win the remaining four games to have any chance of featuring in September.

The Suns have nine wins on the season and the magic benchmark for the top eight in recent years has been 13. The club has never won more than 10 games in a single campaign.

As far as draws go, the Suns have one of the softest runs home of any team.

They travel to Perth next weekend to play the Eagles followed by the Bombers in Melbourne, two sides they have already beaten this season. Then it’s back home to host the Demons for a round 24 MCG blockbuster against Richmond.

The Suns will have to win their remaining four games to be any chance of playing finals. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

For a side that has yet to win a game away from home this season, the Suns must now do so three times out of four to have any chance of playing finals footy.

“You’ve just got to be playing your best footy at the right time (to make finals) … there’s some sides at the moment that are getting smashed that are above us (on the ladder), and some sides below us that are playing really well,” Hardwick said.

“With four games to go, we’ve probably got to win them all. Are we capable? Absolutely. I’ve got a really strong belief in this group, and I’m hoping it’s this year but I certainly think it’ll be not too long away. They’re a group that are capable of more. I’m disappointed for us, and the reality is that it falls on me and the coaches to make sure we drive this group to get better. If there’s still a chance, we’re still going to go flat out.”

Originally published as AFL round 20: Brisbane Lions withstand Gold Coast in QClash to move to second on ladder