GOLD COAST coach Guy McKenna says his team will be careful not to fall into same trap as it did last week, and turn on a "blase" performance following a win.

The Suns were thrashed by Essendon the week after its inaugural win in the AFL, but McKenna said his team would learn from that performance and be on its guard when it takes on the Crows next weekend.

The Suns defeated crosstown rival Brisbane Lions on Saturday night at the Gabba for its second win in the AFL, and McKenna said the victory showed the young group had resilience and character.

"The boys weathered the storm.... The spirit of the lads to hang on and grit that out, it shows a lot about their character," he said.

"For such a young group, the resilience amongst the boys is exceptional."

He said the club had also learned a lot about defender Nathan Krakouer's character, who booted five goals and was one of the team's best.

Krakouer was out of the team for three weeks and McKenna said: "I don’t think [being left out of the young team] was an easy pill to swallow. It showed a lot about his character [as well].

"If we can get him using the ball and committing himself, he is going to be an exciting prospect.

"I think (assistant coach) Ken Hinkley has claimed him as a forward (but) in our best side, Nathan Krakouer would be running out of half back."

The game was bruising but the young Suns managed to win, despite losing Daniel Gorringe early to a hamstring injury. Jared Brennan, Gary Ablett and Nathan Bock also suffered injuries during the game but battled on.

"[The game] was ferocious but it was certainly hard and fair," McKenna said.

The Suns started strongly against the Lions, kicking the first three goals of the game and winning that quarter by 19 points.

"We spoke about [starting well] and I think the boys backed that up. We got the jump on them and, looking at the scores for the rest of the game (the Suns won the next quarter by eight points and lost the last two quarters by a combined total of 19 points), that was the difference in the game."

McKenna said midfielder Ablett would be "fine" for next week. Ablett went off the ground holding his ribs in the second quarter.

"He came off winded but there was no rib damage," McKenna said.

McKenna avoided adding further bite to the inaugural QClash which had its fair share of verbal sparring before a ball was bounced.

He even went as far as putting his early remarks (those about the Suns cleaning the "Brisbane Bears' mess") in context, saying he had meant the Suns were filling a void left behind by the Bears' relocation to Brisbane.