FORM GUIDE
This weekend sees the Queensland clubs have their first match for premiership points after an early sighting of one another in Townsville during the NAB Challenge matches.
The Brisbane Lions are going into QClash7 after arguably the toughest opening two rounds to start season 2014. A first up clash with reigning premiers Hawthorn at their fortress in Launceston followed by a clash with perennial finalist of the past decade, Geelong, has left the Lions with an 0-2 record.
The Gold Coast Suns had an impressive first up win over fellow finals aspirant Richmond but were bought back down to earth by a solid Fremantle outfit last weekend on a wet Saturday night in Perth.
The Lions lead the head-to-head in the QClash 5-1 and will be hoping to keep the dominance over their ‘little brother’ from the south end of the M1.
The Suns are a different proposition at Metricon Stadium this season and the experts are giving the Suns favouritism for the clash on Saturday afternoon.
This rivalry is starting to hot up and become a big fixture on the Queensland sporting calendar and we should be in for a fantastic afternoon of football on the Gold Coast.
WATCH: Justin Leppitsch talks QClash
SELECTION TABLE
The Lions have maintained a relatively settled line-up so far this season, with Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch obviously hoping to build some continuity within the group.
Tom Rockliff, who returns from a one-match sanction for rough conduct against Sam Mitchell in Round One, returns at the expense of Rohan Bewick, who had limited game time last weekend as the substitute.
The Suns have been dealt a big blow with Charlie Dixon ruled out with an adductor strain, while Timmy Sumner has been omitted.
They have added some defensive experience in the form of Matthew Warnock and also recalled Luke Russell.
KEY MATCH-UPS
All three areas of the ground will see intriguing contests, which will go a long to determine the winner of this match.
We can start with the Lions backline and the Suns forwards. The Suns have generally run with three tall forwards this season, however Charlie Dixon’s absence will mean their attack is likely to be spearheaded by young stars Tom Lynch and Sam Day.
The Lions opted for three tall defenders at the selection table in Daniel Merrett, Justin Clarke and Jordan Lisle, with two-time Club Champion Joel Patfull another who is capable of playing against any sized opponent.
There is every chance that Leppitsch could send Daniel Merrett to full-back to line up on Tom Lynch, with Justin Clarke possibly getting the early job on Sam Day.
That leaves Jordan Lisle potentially without a direct match-up, although who knows how the teams will line up come Saturday night.
The rotations among this set of players will make for absorbing viewing as the game unfolds.
The centre of the ground is where everything begins and there is plenty of quality on display for the fans here.
We can expect to see the Lions’ ruck tandem of Matthew Leuenberger and Trent West going up against young Sun Tom Nicholls. Both Leuenberger and West will have the edge on Nicholls in terms of experience. Nicholls will need some back-up at times, and with Dixon out of their side, expect one of Day or Lynch to help fill that void.
The midfield match ups will see the Lions brigade of Tom Rockliff, Jack Redden, Daniel Rich, James Aish, Sam Mayes, Brent Moloney and Dayne Zorko going head-to-head with the Suns’ Gary Ablett, Dion Prestia, Jaegar O’Meara, David Swallow, Danny Stanley, Michael Rischitelli and Matt Shaw.
It is truly a mouth-watering prospect for both sets of fans to see who runs with whom at various stages throughout the match.
A hard tag for Ablett would have no doubt been considered by the Lions, but Leppitsch has all but ruled out that option considering regular tagger Andrew Raines was not selected. There is some speculation that Rockliff might get first crack at the ‘little master’.
Jonathan Brown will more than likely see Rory Thompson on his hip for the evening. Thompson returned for his first match last week after an injury interrupted pre-season, so Brown will be using his experience and leading patterns to work Thompson over as much as possible.
MAINTAIN THE RAGE
The Lions have rued lapses in concentration in the first two rounds, which have proved extremely costly against quality opponents.
Against Hawthorn they were within two points late in the third quarter but ran out of steam and the Hawks ran out eight-goal winners.
Against Geelong last weekend the Lions were again competitive but a small period just prior to halftime and the first part of the third quarter allowed the Cats to build a lead, which they maintained for the rest of the afternoon.
The Lions must maintain their concentration for the full four quarters this Saturday afternoon or suffer the same fate as the previous two rounds.
The Suns, in their fourth season, are now also looking for that consistent four-quarter effort that has been lacking in their previous seasons.
This match will become a survival of the fittest.
WELCOME BACK TOM
After missing the match against the Cats last week the Lions welcome back Vice Captain Tom Rockliff for QClash7.
He is a previous winner of the Marcus Ashcroft Medal from QClash3 and will be fresh and rested after his enforced week off by the Match Review Panel.
Rockliff is averaging 28 disposals against the Suns across the six matches to date and will be looking to make another big impact on Saturday.
LUCK OF THE IRISH
The Suns, throughout the history of the QClash, have been unable to find a suitable match up for dashing Lions winger Pearce Hanley.
Hanley has polled Brownlow Medal votes in three of the six matches between the clubs and is averaging 23.5 disposals in the QClash.
Hanley will again look to run free on the wings at Metricon Stadium and hit the scoreboard to build pressure on the young Suns and force an opponent to run with him all afternoon.
LIONS RESERVES
The Lions reserves opened their 2014 NEAFL campaign as a curtain-closer at the Gabba last Sunday against the Sydney Swans reserves. It proved to be a big win for the Swans with 54 points separating the teams at the end of the afternoon.
This week sees the Lions reserves back to the curtain-raiser match against the Suns reserves who are also coming off a first up loss to local rival Southport Sharks.
As was the case last week, too much footy is never enough and again Lions fans have the opportunity to see both teams back-to-back against their local rivals the Suns this weekend.
Carl Nimb is an independent writer and Lions Member (#2604559) who will contribute to lions.com.au throughout the season.
You can follow him on Twitter @CarlNimb
