SUMMARY
Depending on how you look at it, this could be the best time ever or the worst time ever to play a QClash after both teams were flogged last weekend. Brisbane copped a 93-point lesson from premier Richmond while Gold Coast made it successive losses in Perth with an 80-point hiding from West Coast. It might not be a great sales pitch for the marketing types, but a local rivalry is the best way for both teams to move on quickly. The Lions are still winless after a month, but aside from last week's aberration, have been highly competitive. Gold Coast was flying with two wins from two, but its stint in the West Australian capital brought them back to earth, thanks to a patchy work-rate and inconsistent effort. Both clubs have made contested footy and tackling a priority, and just who brings the most intensity will get the points here. If the Lions match Gold Coast's inside game, they might just have too much outside speed and sneak home.
WHERE AND WHEN: Gabba, Sunday, April 22, 4.40pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R21, 2017, Brisbane 22.10 (142) d Gold Coast 12.12 (84) at the Gabba
R1, 2017, Brisbane 15.8 (98) d Gold Coast 14.12 (96) at Metricon Stadium
R16, 2016, Gold Coast 22.7 (139) d Brisbane 17.11 (113) at Metricon Stadium
R4, 2016, Brisbane 14.23 (107) d Gold Coast 14.10 (94) at the Gabba
R19, 2015, Gold Coast 17.12 (114) d Brisbane 14.16 (100) at the Gabba
THE SIX POINTS
1.In the most recent QClash the Suns led by 21 points at the first change before the Lions kicked 19 goals to six in the remaining three quarters. Skipper Dayne Beams was the star with 32 disposals and a career-high four goals.
2. Brisbane has won the fewest quarters this season with only four. Gold Coast has won six quarters but just two in the past fortnight against Fremantle and West Coast.
3. This will be the 15th edition of the QClash, with the Lions winning nine to the Suns' five. Brisbane has won six of eight contests at the Gabba, including four by 50 points or more.
4. No team has tackled more this season than the Suns, with an average of 74.3 a game. Brisbane is ranked equal 14th with 57.3 a game.
5. Another loss and it will be the second time since 2015 Brisbane has started a season 0-5. Since 2015 they’ve won just two of 19 matches in the first five weeks of a season.
6. Harris Andrews continues to rise, and following his 17 touches and seven marks against the Tigers, is now ranked fourth among key defenders in the Schick AFL Player Ratings, behind only Alex Rance, Jeremy McGovern and Tom McDonald.
IT’S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Suns ruckman Jarrod Witts had a super first couple of weeks but ran into a Nic Naitanui avalanche last Saturday night. While Gold Coast are yet to lose a clearance count – of which Witts is a huge part – he comes up against in-form Lion Stefan Martin and must match him both at the stoppages and around the ground. Martin has drawn more free kicks (21) than any player in the competition.
PREDICTION: Brisbane by 15 points
