Rover Scott Harding, fellow midfielders Troy Selwood and Cheynee Stiller, key position utilities Scott Clouston and Lachlan Henderson, and two-time AFL premiership player Tim Notting all kept the pressure on for places in the Brisbane side with a hard-working display.
The result was a lop-sided 27.19 (181)-2.8 (20) scoreline, with the Lions booting 10 goals in the second term and nine in the fourth to rack up the cricket score.
“Gee they were good,” admitted Redland coach Matthew Francis afterwards.
“I take my hat off to the guys like Scott Harding, Cheynee Stiller and Tim Notting who continually pushed through pain despite the fact they were playing the bottom side in a game that didn’t impact on them,” said Francis said.
“You could see them hurting at every break from pushing themselves so hard with their running. Their workrate was just fantastic.”
Redland battled to get the ball forward and kicked both of their goals in the third term, with Michael Thompson playing against expectations, holding down the goalsquare with his sore quad.
“It was a special effort for him to get out there,” Francis said.
As the score grew rapidly before halftime, Francis elected to play his best players on the Lions’ best, so the likes of Phil Carse, Blake Passfield and Matt Thomson received a true learning experience.
Queensland Under 18 most valuable player award winner from this year’s campaign Thomson had a willing battle with Albert Proud.
But the other Bombers struggled to contain the run of the Lions.
Harding was brilliant with four goals to cap his outstanding work in the midfield, and Clouston and Henderson booted nine goals between them.
Stiller and Selwood were ball magnets, and they had good assistance from the lively Chris Schmidt.
Aside from Thomson, Redland were again well served by young co-captain Adam Mueller, who has enjoyed a strong finish to the season in a number of against-the-odds defensive roles.
Passfield battled hard and GC17 signatory Charlie Dixon again impressed with his strong work in the air and on the ground.
It was a less than ideal warm up for the Suncoast’s first semi final clash with Morningside at Giffin Park, Coorparoo on Sunday (2.15pm).
Suncoast have won six of their last seven matches by an average margin of more than 100 points, but always find Morningside offer tough resistance.
The Lions hold a 2-1 head-to-head advantage this season, and their Round 12 clash at the neutral Coorparoo venue was one of the game’s of the season.
Suncoast led by six goals at quarter time, three points at halftime, 49 points at the last change and held on for an 11-point victory after Morningside had closed to within five points with five minutes remaining.
Morningside skipper David Lillico and power forward Ken Abey loom as the main dangers to Suncoast, who will earn a week off and then a preliminary final clash with either Mt Gravatt or Southport with victory on Sunday.
Scoreboard:
Suncoast Lions, 4.8, 14.11, 18.14, 27.19 (181)
Redland, 0.0, 0.2, 2.4, 2.8 (20)
Goals, Lions: S Clouston 5, L Henderson 4, S Harding 4, A Proud 2, S Sheldon 2, C Stiller 2, A Magin, J Polkinghorne, A Fabian, D Dzufer, R Morrison, D Barry, J Hawksworth, C Begley 1. Bombers: M Reid, B Passfield 1.
Best, Lions: S Harding, S Clouston, L Henderson, C Stiller, T Selwood, W Mills. Bombers: C Dixon, M Thompson, M Thomson, B Passfield, J Myles, A Boon.
Final ladder:
TEAM P W L D For Ag PC Pts
Mt Gravatt 19 15 4 0 2122 1514 140.1 60
Southport 19 14 4 1 2058 1348 152.6 58
Suncoast Lions 19 12 6 1 2138 1552 137.7 50
Morningside 19 10 9 0 2135 1898 112.4 40
Zillmere Eagles 19 9 10 0 1877 1979 94.8 36
Broadbeach 19 8 11 0 1747 1769 98.7 32
Labrador 19 4 15 0 1565 2203 71.0 16
Redland 19 3 16 0 1344 2723 49.36 12
