GOLD Coast has hung on to win a gripping QClash by five points against Brisbane on Sunday night with some final minute defensive heroics nabbing them a third win of the season.
The Suns led by as much as 27 points in the third term and had to withstand a final quarter Lions comeback, but hung on to win 11.10 (76) to 10.11 (71) to right their season after successive losses in Perth
DOWN TO THE WIRE: Full match coverage and stats
No.1 draft pick Cam Rayner had a flying shot at goal from 50m in the final seconds to draw the contest, but pulled it wide for a behind.
WATCH: Rayner tries to draw the game
The Suns were desperate all night and it was fitting their defence won the contest when it counted.
WATCH: Desperate defence saves the Suns
With the Lions pressing inside the last two minutes and needing a goal to win, Marcus Ashcroft medallist Touk Miller threw his body across Jacob Allison's boot as the Lion lined up on the run from 50m.
His smother will be the lasting image of the contest.
WATCH: Miller shows his desperation
Jarrod Harbrow followed it up just seconds later with a goal-saving tackle on Charlie Cameron 15m from goal as the Lions speedster looked set to snap the winner.
WATCH: The last two minutes
Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew was both relieved and proud to eke out the win.
"We did hang on. They were coming at us," Dew said.
"We knew they were going to come at us … (there was) some special efforts in the end but also some things we can work on in the end when the game was in the balance.
"To be three and two … we had to respond after last week."
The win came with just 21 men for most of the night after young small forward Darcy MacPherson limped off with a lower leg injury in the second term and did not return.
After four weeks of travel, the Suns showed no signs of fatigue.
They were methodical and disciplined, swarming Brisbane with relentless pressure.
They were all over the Lions from the opening bounce, with Jarrod Harbrow's bone-rattling tackle on Ryan Bastinac indicative of their intensity.
FAN FLIPS OVER FENCE: Five talking points
Miller went to Dayne Zorko and made the Lions star's night a miserable one.
At every opportunity, Miller got stuck into the All Australian, pushing, shoving and giving him no breathing space.
Zorko finished with a paltry 10 disposals and had minimal influence, while Miller became more and more involved as the night wore on, racking up 21 touches, including seven clearances.
Co-captain Steven May played easily his best game of the season, while David Swallow, Brayden Fiorini and Jarrod Harbrow also excelled.
The loss will sting the Lions.
It is the fourth time in five rounds they have had a chance to win in the final term, yet they are winless.
Coach Chris Fagan was left to lament some wasted set-shot opportunities that came back to bite his team.
"We've just got to learn from it," Fagan said.
"Maybe we needed to show a little bit more composure later in the game.
"I thought we missed some set shots we should have kicked tonight. When you lose by five points you look at that and go, 'gee'.
"But we did a lot of things right on the night."
Young midfielders Jarrod Berry (25 disposals) and Hugh McCluggage (26) were excellent, while Eric Hipwood (three goals) made the most of few opportunities and Charlie Cameron (two goals from 18 touches) looked like tearing the game apart.
MEDICAL ROOM
Brisbane Lions: No real concerns for the Lions. Dayne Zorko spent a few minutes on the bench in the final quarter with what appeared to be an elbow injury, but returned to the field and played the game out.
Gold Coast: The major concern revolves around small forward Darcy MacPherson, who limped off with a lower leg injury in the second term. Coach Stuart Dew had no further update post-match and said MacPherson would be scanned early in the week. Co-captain Steven May dislocated a finger in the third quarter but had it popped back in, taped up and returned to play an influential role.
NEXT UP
Gold Coast continues its long travel schedule in six days' time with a trip to Adelaide Oval to play the back-in-form Crows on Saturday night. Brisbane has a tall order to break its duck, taking on Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
WATCH: Charlie sparks the Lions
BRISBANE 2.3 4.7 7.9 10.11 (71)
GOLD COAST 4.2 7.3 10.6 11.10 (76)
GOALS
Brisbane: Hipwood 3, Cameron 2, Taylor, Bailey, Rayner, Zorko, McStay,
Gold Coast: MacPherson 2, Lynch 2, Fiorini 2, Lyons, Young, Day, Holman, May
BEST
Brisbane: Berry, Witherden, Martin, McCluggage, Cameron, Andrews
Gold Coast: Miller, Fiorini, May, Swallow, Weller, Harbrow
INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Gold Coast: MacPherson (lower leg), May (dislocated finger)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fisher, Schmitt, Fleer
Official crowd: 16,087 at the Gabba
Suns FaceTime Darcy MacPherson in for the team song. Picture: AFL Photos
