SUMMARY
The 14th edition of the QClash has plenty riding on it for both clubs. Gold Coast made the big move of sacking coach Rodney Eade on Monday night, putting the rest of the under-performing football department on notice there might be more changes to come. Just how the players respond to the adversity will be intriguing. On the other side, there's the bottom-placed Lions, desperate for victory as they try to avoid the wooden spoon. The home team has been vastly improved in the past 10 weeks, as shown by last round's narrow loss to the Western Bulldogs, but with just three matches remaining the Lions still sit a game plus percentage from Carlton and North Melbourne. The Lions upset Gold Coast in the opening match of the season, and with a vastly-depleted Suns outfit running out on Saturday, should be favoured to do so again.
WHERE AND WHEN: the Gabba, Saturday, August 12, 4.35pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R1, 2017, Brisbane Lions 15.8 (98) d Gold Coast 14.12 (96) at Metricon Stadium
R16, 2016, Gold Coast 22.7 (139) d Brisbane Lions 17.11 (113) at Metricon Stadium
R4, 2016, Brisbane Lions 14.23 (107) d Gold Coast 14.10 (94) at the Gabba
R19, 2015, Gold Coast 17.12 (114) d Brisbane Lions 14.16 (100) at the Gabba
R5, 2015, Gold Coast 18.10 (118) d Brisbane Lions 7.12 (54) at Metricon Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Lions stunned the Suns in the opening quarter in round one, kicking seven goals to two, and by half-time led by 46 points. The Suns kicked 11 goals to four in the second half but fell short. Tom Rockliff had 37 disposals and Dayne Zorko 23 and two goals.
2. One advantage for the Suns could be in the centre clearances, ranked second with an average of 14.3, ahead of the Lions in seventh at an average of 12.9.
3. The Lions hold an 8-5 win advantage in head-to-head matches. They've won five of seven games at the Gabba.
4. The Lions continue to be ranked in the bottom two in the competition for disposals, contested possessions, contested marks, inside 50s, marks inside 50 and tackles. They are ranked eighth for clearances.
5. The Suns have been poor away from Metricon Stadium this season, winning just two of nine matches and scoring an average of just 76 points a game.
6. Daniel Rich continued his superb season last week and jumped to 54th overall on the AFL's Official Player Ratings brought to you by Schick. Rich's 24 disposals and two goals against the Western Bulldogs netted him 31.5 rating points – the highest in the AFL in round 20.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Dean Solomon.
The long-time Suns assistant gets his crack at the senior role, taking over from sacked Rodney Eade for the final three games of the season. Solomon wants to be a senior coach, and beating the Lions first-up would do his chances no harm.
PREDICTION: Brisbane Lions by 33 points
