goldcoastfc.com.au took on a new look this week as the Club’s creative team set about promoting the weekends QClash4 encounter, the first between the two Queensland clubs to be played at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.

On the left, Gary Ablett stands proudly looking over the Gold Coast, while on the right, suspended Lions star Daniel Rich stood tall, looking over the River City, however his image had been slightly altered, an ‘I love GC’ tattoo scrawled down his arm, the Lions midfielder also sported a goatee, glasses and devil horns.

Most fans saw the artwork for what it is, friendly banter between two rival clubs in the lead up to one of the most anticipated clashes of the year with the clubs website and social media channels experiencing significant increases in traffic, however the meaning was apparently lost on Lions midfielder Jack Redden who had this to say about the GC SUNS marketeers at a Lions media call.

The kids can do their finger paintings and the men will play footy this weekend.

Earlier in the day, Brisbane Coach Michael Voss had called for the Lions to push the boundaries and be more aggressive against the GC SUNS on Saturday, Gold Coast Assistant Coach Ken Hinkley saying he would be surprised if the Lions hadn’t upped the anti.

“That’s been a strength of the Brisbane Lions for about ten years in that they have been an aggressive side, even in their great days I’m sure Vossy played that way and would coach that way and I am sure we want our players to play the same way, it’s AFL footy it’s a brutal game and if you not going close to the line all the time you are probably leaving yourself open to get beaten easy.”

The GC SUNS this morning changed their image with Rich reappearing in a ballerina tutu and wearing a golden crown, the web branding accompanied by a huge billboard bearing the same image on the M1.

“We have got and are going to have over a rivalry for a long period of time, there is a little bit of extra stuff going on from a marketing point of view I am sure just to create a little extra bit of flavour and hopefully we get a good strong crowd that comes along because of that but lets be honest, the game of footy, the rivalry stands at two ,one their way, we need to do our best to get it to two all on the ground.”

Hinkley saying the return of a number of injured players had had a significant impact on the playing list.

“We have actually got some players back over the past month and I think some of our performances have probably been reflective of that and as young as they are they help, you get Prestia back and McKenzie back in some form and Swallow comes back in last week and all of a sudden it makes it a bit easier across the board for everyone, Jarrod Harbrow two weeks ago has been really important for us so we have actually built some of our personnel back up and they will get through the season hopefully strongly and hopefully we can finish off the season strong.”

Speaking on SEN radio in Melbourne this morning, Johnathan Brown said claiming the QClash trophy was important to everyone at the Lions.

“We certainly want to beat them and it’s obviously a pretty big thing up here and we want to control the AFL territory up here, we were first in and we want to keep it that way.”

The skipper adding that the defection of Jarred Brennan and Michael Rischitelli had certainly fast tracked the rivalries status.

There is a couple of ex-players who have moved from the Lions and have gone to play for the SUNS, so it means a lot to the players.

Hinkley saying the rivalry was good for the teams, the State and the code.

“I love watching those games, West Coast and Freo, the two Adelaide sides. Hopefully the two Sydney sides will have that and I am sure the two Queensland sides will have that and we look forward to really building on that and that’s going to be a really powerful game I reckon in a few years to come, the game will be a sell out, people will be wanting to get into see it and it will be a great opportunity for our fans.”

A little bit of bragging rights is always at stake and you watch those ones that have built up over a period of time and they are exciting games and we like to think this game will become that with the two Queensland clubs.

Hinkley saying consistency would provide the key to victory for the Gold Coasters on Saturday following crucial lapses in a number recent games which cost the GC SUNS possible victory.

“Even last week against Richmond we had our issues in that third quarter, but pleasingly we stepped up again in the last quarter and hopefully that’s a good sign for us.”

Gates open at 2.30pm on Saturday with the GC SUNS and Brisbane Lions NEAFL teams doing battle before first bounce in the main game at 4.40pm, click here for ticketing and transport information.