Brisbane has survived a huge scare, edging past Gold Coast to win by four points in a tense QClash at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
In a fiery contest marred by some heated first-half moments, the Lions overturned a nine-point deficit in the final quarter to win 10.18 (78) to 11.8 (74).
The victory is Brisbane's fifth of the season and reverses the five-point loss suffered in the clash between the teams earlier in the year.
After being labelled by Lions defender Nick Robertson as "soft" in the build-up, Gold Coast was anything but in front of its home fans.
They weren't clean – neither team was – but the SUNS were ultra-competitive and could have easily pinched the win.
Allen Christensen kicked a goal early in the final term after a dubious 50m penalty, and when Dayne Beams and Lewy Taylor followed suit, the Lions had a lead they would not relinquish.
A Jarryd Lyons goal with two minutes remaining made for a nervous finish, but a Stefan Martin contested mark on the wing sealed victory.
Beams was magnificent for the victors, winning the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for best afield with 38 disposals and nine clearances.
It is the third time in the past four QClashes Beams has been named the game's best player.
Harris Andrews also starred, controlling the backline and kicking a crucial goal on the three-quarter time siren when swung forward.
After losing five games by seven points or less, the Lions finally won a close one, and had to do so without Rising Star hopeful Alex Witherden for much of the night after the young defender injured his hamstring in the first quarter.
Alex Sexton was terrific in defeat, kicking four goals, while Touk Miller again kept Dayne Zorko quiet, limiting the Lions All Australian to just 17 disposals.
Sexton got stuck into Robertson before the first bounce and then backed up his aggression, kicking three of his goals in the first half to keep the SUNS in the hunt.
Following a mini melee at quarter-time, emotions spilled over midway through the second term when Sean Lemmens hit young Lion Brandon Starcevich late and high in a marking contest.
Not surprisingly Mitch Robinson was the first man on the scene to remonstrate with Lemmens, which in turn brought players flying in from both teams.
Zorko ended up on the ground via a Miller shove and when the teams settled, Gold Coast got back to playing footy and lifted their intensity.
Marcus Ashcroft Medal Votes
A. Lynch
3 votes - D. Beams
2 votes - B. Fiorini
1 vote - S. Martin
J.White
3 votes - D. Beams
2 votes - A. Sexton
1 vote - S. Martin
A.Stafford
3 votes - D. Beams
2 votes - B. Fiorini
1 vote - A. Sexton
Player Tally
9 votes - D.Beams
4 votes - B. Fiorini
3 votes - A. Sexton
2 votes - S. Martin
GOLD COAST 1.2 6.4 8.6 11.8 (74)
BRISBANE 3.5 6.10 7.15 10.18 (78)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Sexton 4, Ainsworth, Bowes, Crossley, Fiorini, Holman, Lyons, Young
Brisbane: Taylor 2, Andrews, Beams, Christensen, Mathieson, McCluggage, Rayner, Starcevich, Walker
BEST
Gold Coast: Sexton, Bowes, Miller, Swallow, Fiorini, Harbrow
Brisbane: Beams, McCluggage, Hodge, Andrews, Berry, Martin
INJURIES
Gold Coast: TBC
Brisbane: Witherden (hamstring)
Reports:
Umpires: Haussen, Whetton, Meredith
Official crowd: 11,907 at Metricon Stadium
