An explosive first quarter has blasted Brisbane past Queensland AFL rivals Gold Coast, but the win was again dampened by injury to a key man.
The Lions’ 13.10 (88) to 6.7 (43) victory at the Gabba moved them to second (12-3) for the season with two rounds to play before finals.
Brisbane ball magnet Lachie Neale (33 disposals, 19 contested possessions) was back to his dominant best to claim the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for best on ground while Charlie Cameron regained a scent for goal after a quiet month for the All-Australian small forward.
Victory came without injured All-Australian fullback Harris Andrews, who could be joined on the sideline by in-form midfielder Jarrod Berry.
Berry hurt his shoulder when slung to the turf in the second term, while goal sneak Linc McCarthy corked his thigh but battled on and emerging defender Brandon Starcevich (concussion) was also a first-half casualty.
Second-gamer Jack Payne impressed with four first-quarter marks on Suns key forward Ben King as he filled Andrews’ big shoes.
But Berry’s potential absence in the Lions’ engine room another is headache for coach Chris Fagan, who was this week adamant they have the depth to cover their key defender.
Captain Dayne Zorko (two goals) kicked the game’s first goal inside 30 seconds, with Cameron Rayner twice involved as they sliced through the guts of the Suns’ defence.
They kicked five goals in the first quarter and hit the post twice, Eric Hipwood terrorising in-form Gold Coast defender Sam Collins to set the tone.
Rayner was denied a career-best four-goal haul through his own doing, his red-hot night cooling when he played on and missed a snap from almost directly in front of goal.
Mitch Robinson ensured that didn’t hurt them, gifted a goal when Connor Budarick volleyed a ball already out of bounds into the stands.
A hungry Cameron (two goals), having missed two from point-blank range, then iced the contest with a long-range snap as the Lions led by 41 points at the final break.
Neale had 20 disposals by halftime while half-forward Keidean Coleman was slick and composed in his second game and Daniel Rich constantly rebounded in defence.
Lachie Weller provided some run and carry as the Suns tried to work into the contest ahead of halftime, with Jack Lukosius and Brandon Ellis busy on a forgettable night for the Suns.