GOLD Coast's final aspirations are teetering after the Brisbane Lions dealt the Suns a 54-point QClash hammering at the Gabba on Saturday night.
The match was effectively over at quarter-time as the Lions raced to a 41-point lead, and never looked back, running out 16.14 (110) to 8.8 (56) victors.
It was Gold Coast's second lacklustre loss since the season-ending shoulder injury to skipper Gary Ablett, and leaves it languishing in ninth place with five rounds remaining.
The Suns are now winless from seven matches without Ablett.
For the Lions, it was their most convincing performance of the season and came just a day after the announcement of Greg Swann as the club's new CEO.
"You see Swanny's influence already, 27,000 people and a win," coach Justin leppitsch joked after the match.
Pearce Hanley produced one of the best individual performances of the season, claiming his first Marcus Ashcroft Medal for best on ground with a career-high 45 disposals, nine clearances, two goals and three goal assists.
Dayne Zorko (30 touches, 10 clearances, two goals) was relentless for four quarters, as was vice-captain Tom Rockliff (46, 11 clearances).
Stefan Martin dominated in the ruck, while Josh Green's three goals headlined 10 individual goalkickers for the Lions.
When the game was on the line, the Lions were harder and more committed at the contest than their bigger name midfield rivals during a first-half downpour.
"We took our chances and set it up, then the rain came in and made the game a different game altogether," Leppitsch said.
"They've been training really well, they're starting to drive themselves on the track.
"The understanding of what they're doing is really good. It's about implementing it and doing it as long as we can.
"The strength of the group is not giving up."
On a sour night for the Suns, their injury toll continued to mount, with Michael Rischitelli (quad) a late withdrawal, and Charlie Dixon (groin) and Zac Smith (ankle) unavailable by half-time.
But there was no excuse for the first quarter, where the finals aspirants were blown off the park.
The Lions led disposals (125-35), marks (22-1) and clearances (17-6) in one of the most lopsided quarters of football in any game this season.
Gold Coast had no accountability and seemingly little spirit.
While Rockliff copped the Danny Stanley tag, Hanley ran free for 12 disposals, including a supremely skilled right-footed snap for goal from 45m.
Gold Coast was second to the ball and reactive to every Lions move.
"Why did it happen tonight? Seriously I can't answer that," he said.
"We'll look slow, we'll look lost at stoppages, but that hasn't been the case for most of the year.
"You can accept that (performance) in the first two years, 18 year-olds playing up against men, in most cases for the first time, but not after three years.
"Not like that. Not when there was so much on the game as well. That's not us."
This lack of intensity was no more evident than Lewis Taylor's goal late in the term when ruckman Smith simply watched on as the diminutive Lion picked the ball up at the top of the square to snap a goal.
There was no relenting from the home team, who thrilled the 27,167 fans with their fifth win of the season.
Hanley's third-quarter goal where he started a swift chain of possessions from half-back and ended running 100m to snap a left-footed goal at the other end was the cream on the Lions' cake.
Lions players celebrate a goal during their impressive upset win over the Suns. Picture: AFL Media
Brisbane Lions 7.7 10.11 11.12 16.14 (110)
Gold Coast 1.2 3.3 4.4 8.8 (56)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Green 3, Close 2, Hanley 2, McGrath 2, Zorko 2, Maguire, Taylor, Rockliff, Crisp, McStay
Gold Coast: Sexton 3, Hall, Stanley, Shaw, Martin, Day
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Hanley, Zorko, Rockliff, Martin, Green, Patfull, Crisp
Gold Coast: May, Stanley, Shaw
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Mayes (concussion)
Gold Coast: Dixon (groin), Smith (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane Lions: Claye Beams on for Sam Mayes in the third quarter
Gold Coast: Louis Herbert on for Charlie Dixon in the first quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Bannister, Ryan and McInerney
Crowd: 27,167
