Brisbane Lions survive Gold Coast Suns test to consolidate top four position

BRISBANE has held off a spirited Gold Coast by winning Saturday’s QClash by 16 points at a wet Brighton Homes Arena to stay in the top four.

From the start the Suns were aggressive, challenging their more experienced opponents with high pressure and quick ball movement, but the hosts held on to win 6.8 (44) to 4.4 (28).

LIONS v SUNS Full match coverage and stats

Gold Coast pulled within six points early in the final term before Dakota Davidson wrapped up the match with a late score, firing in a shot from 20 yards.

The win is Brisbane’s seventh straight win and leaves Gold Coast winless with three games remaining.

However, the Lions had to pull out all the stops to win but were unable to crack the determined Gold Coast defense despite having plenty of chances in the first half.

Belle Dawes (27 disposals) and Ally Anderson (31) controlled the midfield battle before Charlie Rowbottom – who had 14 of her 21 touches after half-time – rose to give her team some field position.

Ultimately, three goals to one in the second quarter made the difference for the premiers, who managed just one goal after the main break as the heavens opened.

Taylor Smith extended her lead as the competition’s leading goalkeeper with two more, while Sophie Conway and Bre Koenen also excelled.

This was perhaps the Suns’ best performance of the season, winning the contested number of balls and preparing to take on the match and challenge the Lions.

Daisy D’Arcy continued her brilliant season, spending more time in midfield, while Niamh McLaughlin provided a spark from half-back and Katie Lynch had her best game for the club.

Gold Coast fired some warning shots in the opening quarter after two brilliant goals from the impressive Taya Oliver.

Playing only her third match, Oliver was able to use her body expertly on both occasions, reaching her opponent’s target side, collecting ground balls and finishing smartly.

At the other end, Smith was the only Lion to take advantage of their sizeable 16-6 inside 50 lead, scoring goals after a decision to hold the ball and then again just before quarter-time after a strong score between two opponents.

The home side extended their lead to 14 at the main break after goals from Sophie Conway, Courtney Hodder and Eleanor Hartill – the latter, despite protests from Gold Coast, had touched the ball after leaving Hartill’s boot.

Brisbane’s dominance in play and ability to advance the ball into space gave it a territorial advantage, but the Suns’ defense stood up to keep their team in the game.

Oliver’s twists
Taya Oliver had shown glimpses of her potential in her first two matches, but it all came to the fore in a thrilling first quarter. Jamie Stanton’s long kick into space saw Oliver win a foot race and then finish from close range, before doing the same again moments later, beating Lily Postlethwaite with a clever dribbling kick on her way to her second goal.

Dynamic Dawes continues to rise
Belle Dawes played her second season in a full-time midfield role and had another fantastic match, winning the QClash medal as the best player in the world. With her midfield mate Ally Anderson (31) also finding plenty of footy, Dawes was combative (winning a game-high 21 contested possessions) while being productive (27 disposals). Another hallmark of the pocket dynamo’s game was her two-way work, winning eight interception possessions and influencing seven tackles in a great all-round performance.

Next
The Lions will look to move up to eight on the trot and consolidate their spot in the top four next Sunday when they travel south to play Geelong at GMHBA Stadium (1.05pm AEDT). Gold Coast is running out of chances to win, but next Saturday’s trip against the Swans in Sydney at 3.05pm (AEDT) offers one of those.

BRISBANE 2.2 5.3 5.4 6.8 (44)
GOLD COAST 2.0 3.1 3.3 4.4 (28)

OBJECTIVES
Brisbane: Smith 2, Hodder, Hartill, Davidson, Conway
Gold Coast: Oliver 2, Bohanna 2

BEST
Brisbane: Dawes, Anderson, Koenen, Conway, Dunne, Grider
Gold Coast: McLaughlin, D’Arcy, Lynch, Single, Rowbottom, Girvan

INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Gold Coast: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Brisbane: Nil
Gold Coast: Clara Fitzpatrick (illness) is replaced in the selected team by Kiara Bischa

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 3,142 at the Brighton Homes Arena