MICHAEL Voss said there would be no "free hits" for Gold Coast next season after the Suns came within an ace of springing another surprise on Saturday night.

The Lions' coach was relieved to escape with an 11-point victory over its nearest rivals and hinted any tag of favouritism in future QClash fixtures should be thrown out the door.

The Lions now lead the head-to-head battle 3-1 after winning their third straight on Saturday.

But it wasn't easy, as they came from behind with four minutes remaining to steal victory.

"Coming into these QClashes so far, the first two years the Gold Coast have had a free hit," Voss said.

"As a club we're damned if we do and damned if we don't. If we win, we're supposed to, if we lose, it's like 'what happened there'?

"I think next year that finishes - there's no free hits any more."

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna agreed, saying in local derbies, form should be thrown out the window.

"Having been a part of those (derbies) over in the West, this is what happens -- regardless of games played, ages of sides, where you sit on the ladder," he said.

"You can hose it up or hose it down … from a coaching point of view or a marketing point of view, but these boys understand what's at stake: it's Queensland pride and that's probably why it's burning in a lot of the players' guts."

Voss said despite the scrappy nature of the win, it showed the Lions had taken steps forward.

They trailed by two points with four minutes remaining, but late goals to Tom Rockliff and Rohan Bewick ensured they moved to a 7-9 record.

Voss said last season the Lions lost six or seven games they could have won through either lack of fitness or lack of composure in the final quarter.

"I don't know where the guys found it in the end. With five minutes to go I thought we were cooked," he said.

"Last week (against St Kilda) I guess we were probably in a position to win a game and we lost it, and this week we were probably in a position where we could have lost it, but didn't and we won.

"There's different ways to win a game, sometimes it's brilliant and sometimes it's about toughness and today I think it was about toughness."

Voss said the Lions lacked tackling pressure and played the game on Gold Coast's terms.

He said leaders Rockliff, Daniel Merrett and Ben Hudson all stood tall late in the game.

"In the end the guys found something. In those moments you need guys to step up and we had a couple that were able to do that for us.

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

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The Lions' coach was relieved to escape with an 11-point victory over its nearest rivals and hinted any tag of favouritism in future QClash fixtures should be thrown out the door.

The Lions now lead the head-to-head battle 3-1 after winning their third straight on Saturday.

But it wasn't easy, as they came from behind with four minutes remaining to steal victory.

"Coming into these QClashes so far, the first two years the Gold Coast have had a free hit," Voss said.

"As a club we're damned if we do and damned if we don't. If we win, we're supposed to, if we lose, it's like 'what happened there'?

"I think next year that finishes - there's no free hits any more."

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna agreed, saying in local derbies, form should be thrown out the window.

"Having been a part of those (derbies) over in the West, this is what happens -- regardless of games played, ages of sides, where you sit on the ladder," he said.

"You can hose it up or hose it down … from a coaching point of view or a marketing point of view, but these boys understand what's at stake: it's Queensland pride and that's probably why it's burning in a lot of the players' guts."

Voss said despite the scrappy nature of the win, it showed the Lions had taken steps forward.

They trailed by two points with four minutes remaining, but late goals to Tom Rockliff and Rohan Bewick ensured they moved to a 7-9 record.

Voss said last season the Lions lost six or seven games they could have won through either lack of fitness or lack of composure in the final quarter.

"I don't know where the guys found it in the end. With five minutes to go I thought we were cooked," he said.

"Last week (against St Kilda) I guess we were probably in a position to win a game and we lost it, and this week we were probably in a position where we could have lost it, but didn't and we won.

"There's different ways to win a game, sometimes it's brilliant and sometimes it's about toughness and today I think it was about toughness."

Voss said the Lions lacked tackling pressure and played the game on Gold Coast's terms.

He said leaders Rockliff, Daniel Merrett and Ben Hudson all stood tall late in the game.

"In the end the guys found something. In those moments you need guys to step up and we had a couple that were able to do that for us.

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