The Brisbane Lions have rubber stamped their credentials as a contender in this year’s NEAFL season, comfortably accounting for their glitter strip rivals, the Gold Coast SUNS by 45 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Strong performances all over the park were key in the 16.13 (109) to 9.10 (64) victory, but the Lions were served particularly well by Josh Walker (29 disposals, 12 marks, one goal) and the returning Marco Paparone (30 disposals, 11 marks), as they repelled the Suns’ counter attacks by launching numerous forays forward.

Swingman Matt Hammelmann was used exclusively as a forward and it paid dividends, as he booted four goals, three of them crumbing, showing good hands below the knees for his 198cm frame.

Academy product and No. 55 draft pick Jacob Allison (27 disposals) was outstanding in a breakout performance, whilst Rohan Bewick (26 disposals) and Tom Bell (26 disposals) bounced back following relegation from the senior side.

Matt Shaw (34 disposals, seven marks) accumulated well, whilst Darcy Macpherson (32 disposals, eight marks) was the only other ball magnet in the middle for the SUNS as the Lions controlled the Sherrin with aplomb, seven of the top ten ball winners for the game being Brisbane players.

The task of taking on the undefeated Lions was made all the more difficult from the outset for the home side, as Cameron Loersch was a late withdrawal with knee soreness.

The opening minutes of the match were terse, before Macpherson broke the deadlock with a superb counter attacking goal, running the ball inside fifty from the centre square and snapping through his first under pressure.

The Lions Alex Witherden pinged a hamstring attempting to chase him down and missed the remainder of the match.

But for the remainder of the first quarter it was one way traffic for the Lions, who piled on the next five majors including a bomb from outside 50 courtesy of Michael Close.

The second stanza was a dour affair, both sides managing just two goals apiece to see them head to the half time sheds with the Lions 27 points ahead.

The floodgates opened in the third quarter as Brisbane opened up a match winning lead, the highlight an intercept mark and 50m goal from Academy prospect Luke O’Sullivan.

“Really pleased with the effort and contribution from our 23 players today,” said Lions NEAFL Coach Mitch Hahn.

“I was pleased with Josh Clayton’s role on Will Brodie (five disposals, six tackles), we felt he was a real dangerous player for them and Josh did a fantastic job on him," said Hahn.

“Josh Walker did a great job down in defence, Hammelmann up forward and Marco Paparone on the wing was fantastic.

“Sam Copland has played every single game for us which is fantastic. Campbell Walker came in today and played a role for us as well as Luke O’Sullivan.

“We’re trying to develop our players to be able to play multiple positions, as we now notice that at AFL level, players have to be able to play a variety of positions.

“It’s all about our senior team, and it’s our role as a development side to be able to provide players with the opportunity to play different positions, we’ll continue to do that throughout the year.

“The most important thing is we’ve been able to have a strong list of guys that have been able to play together," said Hahn.

The Lions Cian Hanley made it through his first match for premiership points unscathed, whilst Rhys Mathieson returned emphatically, relishing the contest with 24 touches and seven clearances.

Meanwhile Sun Jack Scrimshaw turned in another solid performance with 21 disposals.

The absence of Loersch helped the Lions dominate the ruck, as Tim Nicholls (15 hit-outs) and Academy youngster Brayden Crossley (nine hit-outs) were outpointed by Archie Smith (30 hit-outs, 16 disposals) and Oscar McInerney (seven hit-outs, 16 disposals, two goals).

The Lions are sitting pretty after the first month of the season and head into their bye weekend 4-0, meanwhile the Suns have their work cut out for them against another undefeated side next week, a collision course with Sydney Uni set for Saturday at Blacktown.

GOLD COAST SUNS 1.3 3.6 7.7 9.10 (64)
BRISBANE LIONS 5.5 7.9 13.10 16.13 (109)

GOALS – Gold Coast: R Davis 2, B Crossley 2, D Macpherson, J Lonergan, H Simington, N Kempe, J Scrimshaw.

Brisbane: M Hammelmann 4, J Jansen 2, J Freeman 2, O McInerney 2, R Bewick, S Copland, M Close, J Walker, J Allison, L O’Sullivan