The Gold Coast might be the only Queensland AFL team with hopes of playing Finals in 2014, but that won’t stop the Brisbane Lions throwing everything they have at spoiling the Suns’ party this Saturday night at the Gabba.
The last encounter between the two teams – in Round 3 earlier this year at Metricon Stadium – is one the Lions would probably rather forget.
Not only did the Lions suffer their greatest ever defeat against the Suns, but they also lost star midfielder Daniel Rich to a season-ending knee injury.
Captain Jed Adcock also copped a heavy knock and played out the second half wrapped in bandages, while Daniel Merrett’s physicality went too far and he copped a two-match sanction for a reckless elbow.
That afternoon, the Lions were beaten up – both physically and mentally – by their so-called ‘little brothers’.
Lions Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch said his side would be seeking redemption when they hosted the Suns at the Gabba on Saturday night.
Leppitsch expected another fiery contest, but hoped this time his side would be disciplined enough to control their aggression.
“As a coach, you don’t care if it gets spiteful or not,” Leppitsch told The Courier Mail.
“You just want the guys to be smart. You don’t want the guys to be giving away silly free kicks.
“Games sometimes spill that way, it’s not ideal when they do but you can’t help the emotions on the footy field sometimes.
“It’s how we act when we feel those emotions is the key.
“It is an expectation every week (to play with discipline) but maybe we will be more cautious given the nature of the game this week.”
Dayne Zorko, who was originally recruited from the Gold Coast, said the prospect of putting a dent in the Suns’ finals chances added further incentive to the Lions’ cause.
“We aren’t going to play finals this year. We don’t want them playing finals either,’’ Zorko told The Courier Mail.
“The Gold Coast have been the dominant team in Queensland this year but we want to own that title, so this game means a lot to us.”
QClash could get ‘spiteful’
Justin Leppitsch expects Saturday night's QClash to be a physical affair