The Brisbane juggernaut has rolled on, cracking Gold Coast's People First Stadium fortress with a 28-point QClash win on Saturday night.
Although their undersized defence was in the spotlight all week, it was the Lions' midfield and damaging half-backs that proved the difference in the 13.15 (93) to 9.11 (65) triumph.
Their eighth-straight win moves the Lions into second spot and suddenly with destiny in their own hands to secure two home finals come September.
The result almost ends Gold Coast's hopes of playing finals.
Brisbane's physicality in the middle of the ground gave them a 43-31 advantage in the clearances that helped protect its backline with a 60-51 inside 50 edge.
Cam Rayner was again instrumental in victory, continuing his purple patch of form with two important second-quarter goals that put separation in the match to go with 25 disposals.
But just as he was in the teams' first match-up this season, it was Dayne Zorko adjudged best afield to win his second Marcus Ashcroft Medal.
Zorko mopped up everything in a chaotic first quarter and used his superb kicking skills to springboard Brisbane's attack.
The Magician finished with a match-high nine score involvements from his 32 touches to underline his importance.
In front of a record QClash crowd at Carrara of 21,043, the SUNS had their perfect home record stopped, unable to make the most of their chances inside 50.
While their height advantage over Brisbane didn't really prove advantageous, they created enough chances to genuinely push the Lions, but could not land the killer blows.
The SUNS will now need to win all four of their remaining matches – against West Coast (away), Essendon (away), Melbourne (home) and Richmond (away) – to have any hope of playing finals for the first time.
There were clearly some nerves for both teams in the opening quarter as Brisbane regularly turned the ball over in its back half.
The SUNS couldn't capitalise though, with Ben King spraying a couple of set shots in a carryover from last week's struggles against Greater Western Sydney.
Nick Holman's ball-and-all tackle of Rayner that earned a free kick, 50m penalty and goal got tempers flaring, but Joe Daniher gave the visitors a quarter-time advantage with a strong mark over Sam Collins.
Brisbane got on top late in a topsy-turvy first half, with Neale and Dunkley winning the midfield arm wrestle and Rayner capitalising with two exceptional goals.
GOLD COAST 2.6 5.8 7.9 9.11 (65)
BRISBANE 3.2 8.7 10.10 13.15 (93)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Rosas Jnr 2, Witts, Rowell, Long, King, Holman, Graham, Flanders
Brisbane: Daniher 2, Cameron 2, Rayner 2, McCluggage 2, Neale, Lohmann, Dunkley, Hipwood, Bailey
BEST
Gold Coast: Uwland, Jeffrey, Collins, Flanders, Anderson
Brisbane: Zorko, Neale, Rayner, Wilmot, Dunkley, Berry
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Brisbane: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Tom Berry (replaced Ned Moyle at three-quarter time)
Brisbane: Conor McKenna (replaced Shadeau Brain at three-quarter time)
Crowd: 21,043 at People First Stadium
Marcus Ashcroft Medal voting
Judges
Jonathon Brown (Chairperson)
Belinda Mellen (Triple M)
Michael Whiting (AFL.com.au
Votes
Zorko 3, 2, 1 (Marcus Ashcroft Medalist)
Neale 3, 2, 1
Rayner 3, 2
Wilmot 1
In the case of a tie, there will be a count back with the medal awarded to the player with the most 3 votes. if it is still tied, then to the player with the most 2 votes. if it is still a tie, the tied player who was awarded the highest points by the Chairperson, will be awarded the medal.
Jonathon Brown (Chairperson) 3 votes Rayner, 2 votes Zorko, 1 vote Neale.
Belinda Mellen (Triple M) 3 votes Zorko, 2 votes Neale, 1 vote Wilmot
Michael Whiting (AFL.com.au) 3 votes Neale, 2 votes Rayner, 1 vote Zorko
