The Lions crashed to their biggest loss of the NEAFL northern conference season, 18.10 (118) to 7.13 (55), and their second to the Suns.
While both teams fielded the same number of top-up players - seven - the Lions had game time restrictions on Charman, Jared Polec and Callum Bartlett, making it hard to match the Suns’ running depth.
As they have done regularly, the Lions were competitive in the opening term, but a four-goal-to-one second quarter saw the Suns ease out to a 23-point lead at halftime.
The home ran amok in the third term, piling on seven goals to one to bankroll the big victory.
Their win was built around a strong showing in the midfield by the high profile Karmichael Hunt and skilful Jacob Gilbee (four goals), the defensive work of Jeremy Taylor, and another outstanding display by emerging young ruckman Tom Hickey.
Hickey dominated the hit-outs and was again strong around the ground, capping a fine display with a season-high three goals.
Luke Russell and Joey Daye also gave the Suns plenty of spark around the packs.
Matt Austin, Josh Dyson, Ryan Harwood and Richard Newell tried hard to stem the tide for the Lions, but they lacked the depth of the red-hot Suns.
With leading goalkicker Aaron Cornelius in the seniors, the forward line lacked reliable marking target.
“On paper we fielded probably close to our best side, when you look at the names. But we had (Jamie) Charman for a half, Callum Barlett still coming back from his knee reco and (Jared) Polec back from injury,” said Lions coach Nathan Clarke.
“Their names were good but we had the few that were underdone. That proved the difference in the end.”
Clarke, who was forced to communicate with the bench on his own mobile phone due to problems at Metricon Stadium, was left to lament some wayward kicking in the deciding third term.
“When the game got going in the third quarter we had four shots at goal and kicked two behinds and two out of bounds on the full,” he said. “They kicked a few easy goals after that and it was the end of us.
“I thought we were very good in the first half. Our clearance work was good and we hung in there. We were four goals down at halftime and just lacked a bit of finish and polish up forward.
“There’s no doubt we missed Cornelius.
“But there were no excuses. We couldn’t finish off our good work and they were too good for us in the third quarter.”
Clarke was happy with the enthusiasm and energy that Charman brought to the side in his first game in 18 months, where he played just the first half, while Bartlett was solid and Drummond relatively quiet.
“Charmo was as energetic as any of them. He clunked a nice mark early and took another good contested mark against Joel Tippett,” Clarke said.
“He was getting to a lot of contests out on the wing which is a bit further up the ground than we were anticipating. He was very good.
“The positive is we got the Charmans, Drummonds and Bartletts through another week injury-free.”
SCOREBOARD
Gold Coast Suns 4.5 8.5 15.8 18.10 (118)
Brisbane Lions 3.1 4.6 5.9 7.13 (55)
Lions Goal Kickers: B. Retzlaff 2, R. Bewick , J. Charman , L. Russ , B. McCulloch , J. Dyson.
Lions Best Players: M. Austin, J. Dyson, R. Harwood, R. Newell, L. Russ.
