SUMMARY
While this 16th edition of the QClash is yet another battle with both clubs in the bottom four, the winner will likely take away bragging rights as Queensland's highest placed team for 2018. Brisbane has rightly received plaudits for its improvement this year, pushing a number of top-eight teams to the brink without nabbing many victories, but the bottom line is it has just four wins – the same as the Suns. Gold Coast won the meeting earlier this season by five points, but since then have won just once from 15 games. With Pearce Hanley adding to the injury toll last week, the Suns have close to half their best team sidelined and are limping to the end of the year. With Dayne Beams and Harris Andrews in All Australian form, the Lions are fresh off a five-goal loss to Collingwood, but have generally been in good form the past two months with a largely settled lineup. If Brisbane wants to rubber-stamp its improvement, it must beat Gold Coast, and should do so comfortably.
WHERE AND WHEN: Metricon Stadium, Saturday, August 18, 7.25pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R5, 2018, Gold Coast 11.10 (76) d Brisbane Lions 10.11 (71) at the Gabba
R21, 2017, Brisbane Lions 22.10 (142) d Gold Coast 12.12 (84) at the Gabba
R1, 2017, Brisbane Lions 15.8 (98) d Gold Coast 14.12 (96) at Metricon Stadium
R16, 2016, Gold Coast 22.7 (139) d Brisbane Lions 17.11 (113) at Metricon Stadium
R4, 2016, Brisbane Lions 14.23 (107) d Gold Coast 14.10 (94) at the Gabba
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Suns led by 15 points at three-quarter time earlier this season before the Lions kicked 3.2 to 1.4 in the final quarter to fall just short. Tom Lynch, Brayden Fiorini and Darcy MacPherson kicked two goals each.
2. A possible advantage for the Suns could be in tackling pressure, where they are ranked third with 70.6 tackles a game, compared to the last-placed Lions, who average 58.1 a game.
3. Brisbane leads the head-to-head match-up with nine wins to six, with an even three-three split at Metricon Stadium.
4. The Suns are the worst fourth-quarter team this season, winning just three times, and they are minus 265 points overall. The Lions are quite strong, having won 12 final quarters and are plus 60 points in total.
5. This is Gold Coast's last chance to avoid a winless season at Metricon Stadium. Their only previous season without a single victory at the venue was in 2011, their first in the competition.
6. He's been dropped twice this season, but Suns midfielder Jarryd Lyons has moved up to 36th overall in the Schick AFL Player Ratings after his 26 touches against Richmond last week. Lyons has been kept to fewer than 20 disposals just once in 17 games this year.
IT’S A BIG WEEK FOR …
After having his colours lowered when the teams met in round five, Dayne Zorko will be desperate to reverse the tables. Touk Miller won the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for keeping Zorko to 10 touches and a goal and infuriated the Lions captain.
PREDICTION: Brisbane by 30 points
