The aerial prowess of Mitchell Clark combined with the swift ball movement of the Suncoast Lions running brigade proved too much for Broadbeach at the Gabba on Saturday, although the Cats showed plenty of fight from late in the second term.

 

At that stage they were trailing by more than 10 goals, but they went blow for blow for the remainder to go down by 55 points - 21.17 (143)-13.10 (88).

 

The Lions went into the game with 12 listed players - down from 15-16 in recent weeks - but the quality of player proved the difference.

 

Scott Harding and Richard Hadley are very good AFL players on their day, and they were unstoppable in this AFLQ Velocity Sports Cup Round 13 match.

 

Harding got a mountain of the ball in the midfield and proved dangerous with three goals when rotated through the forward line, while Hadley was equally prolific and set up numerous goals with his intelligent handball and passing.

 

Clark was supreme in the air and booted eight goals, despite playing just 15 minutes in each quarter. It was an outstanding effort after a month on the sidelines with a leg problem.

 

The 19-year-old has kicked 18 goals in his three outings with Suncoast this winter and he looms as an AFL player of great class once he shrugs the injury problems that have dogged his first 18 months at the Lions.

 

Suncoast also received great service from two of their small forward top-up players, Ben Weightman and Mitch Peterson.

 

The nimble Weightman booted four goals and Peterson two from limited opportunities and were ever dangerous on the rare occasions that the ball did come to ground.

 

Marcus Allan and Matt Moody were busy in the midfield, while Chris Schmidt again used the ball rebounding from half-back.

 

Defender Scott Clouston made life difficult for milestone man Korey Fulton, keeping the champion forward goalless in his 150th game. It was the first time he had not goalled in a game since Round 15 of last season.

 

The only time that Broadbeach looked dangerous was when giant ruckman David Round moved forward in time on of the second term. He booted three quick goals and the Cats managed five in 10 minutes to take some momentum into halftime.

 

Young ruckman Mitch Andrews broke even with Cameron Wood in the centre and around the ground, which was as good as a win given Wood’s dominance in recent weeks, and Nathan Lyons gave the side plenty of run.

 

But the most encouraging news on the day was the performance of Australia Post Queensland Scorpions State Under 18 captain Dayne Zorko.

 

The diminutive midfielder was Queensland’s best in tough conditions in Melbourne on Tuesday, but backed up to star for the Cats.

 

He was busy as ever against the dynamite Lions midfield, and capped an outstanding effort with four goals.

 

The result coupled with the form of Suncoast and Labrador make it impossible for Broadbeach to now make the final five.

 

Scores:

 

Suncoast 8.4, 14.10, 18.13, 21.17 (143)

Broadbeach, 3.3, 8.4, 11.7, 13.10 (88)

Goals, Suncoast: Clark 8, Weightman 4, Harding 3, Kiel 3, Peterson 2, Wood. Broadbeach: Zorko 4, Round 4, Emblem, Boston, Lyons, Dienjes.

Best, Suncoast: Harding, Hadley, Clark, Clouston, Allan, Moody. Broadbeach: Zorko, Andrews, Lyons, Round, B Walters.