SIMON Black won the Marcus Ashcroft Medal, but it was the Brisbane Lions' young brigade that won praise from coach Michael Voss after Saturday night's 62-point win over Gold Coast.

Brownlow medallist Black earned the best afield award with a stellar 31-disposal display, but Voss lauded his youthful, emerging midfield as the catalyst for victory.

He said it was an even team performance that helped them win every quarter and reverse the round-seven loss to the Suns.

"We think we've got good talent coming through and we've been able to expose them to some footy this year," Voss said.

"Blacky had his great day, and Jed [Adcock] was important in that leadership role as well, but having 'Polks' (James Polkinghorne) and 'Leuey' (Matthew Leuenberger) and 'Rock' (Tom Rockliff) and Jack Redden be able to step up was really pleasing to be able to guide this team."

And step up they did.

Rockliff continued to enhance his growing reputation with 34 disposals, Redden collected 27, Polinghorne 22 and Leuenberger 19 to go with 42 hit-outs.

They combined for 25 of the Lions' 50 clearances and Voss said the midfield had worked hard to improve their relationship with Leuenberger to capitalise on his ruck dominance.

"You can certainly get pro-active," he said. "The guys have been working hard to get that relationship right, we haven't got it right yet but we're certainly working towards it.

"That's what we want to be able to form for years to come, that genuine relationship with that group of players and the more they spend together the more that understanding is going to become greater."

Voss said Brent Staker's move forward was important, with the utility kicking two goals and looking dangerous all night.

After criticising his team for not being able to think its way out of trouble in last week's fourth quarter capitulation against Adelaide, Voss said the Lions improved dramatically on Saturday night.

They kicked eight goals to four in the last quarter. "We spoke about patience throughout the game," he said. "We fought our way through it a lot more and were patient on the result and didn't rush it. I thought we were genuinely looking dangerous all night."

Daniel Rich shone for the Lions' reserves in his first match back from a stress reaction in his foot, and Voss expected him to come back into the seniors against Collingwood next week.

Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mike_whiting