The 10.12.72 to 7.8.50 win may have come at a cost though, with in-form skipper Bryce Retzlaff chaired from the ground in the first minute with a left knee injury.
The Lions captain leapt in a one-on-one marking contest on the wing and landed awkwardly after a slight shove in the back.
He was taken off immediately and whisked into the rooms for treatment, and later returned hobbling on crutches with a heavily-iced left knee.
Retzlaff, who sits third on the NEAFL goal-kicking standing with 35, will have scans to determine the extent of the injury.
While Retzlaff’s troubles were an obvious lowlight for the Lions, there were plenty of positives to take out of their eighth win of the season.
Jordan Lisle stepped up in the absence of his key-forward captain; taking 8 marks and booting 5 goals from 21 possessions.
Most impressive was a third quarter effort, when the 196cm Lisle smothered a Suns defender deep in the pocket, gathered the footy at his toes, and hooked a snap through the big sticks from near the boundary 40 metres out.
Lions utility Patrick Karnezis said it was an important contribution.
“With Retzy going down so early and Ace (Cornelius) obviously in the Senior side, we didn’t have out two biggest targets up forward,” Karnezis explained.
“So it was a huge effort from Jordy to step up and kick a bag-he was a real focal point for us and he went a long way towards winning us the game.”
Sam Docherty led the ball-winners with 27 touches, Claye Beams was tireless in collecting 26, while Jack Crisp and Amon Buchanan were impressive in amassing 25 and 23 disposals respectively.
In windy conditions at H & A oval, the match was at times a scrappy affair, but the Lions’ strong first half was ultimately telling.
The visitors led by 41 points at the main break, and despite a minor Suns resurgence late, the closest the home team got was within 21 points deep in the last quarter.
The Lions atoned for their 15 point loss to the Suns in round four; Karnezis said it was always tough against another AFL Reserves side, so it was a welcome win.
“It’s never easy playing an AFL Ressies team; the Swans, Giants, Suns are difficult,” Karnezis said.
“Today especially the conditions were tough; it was hot and windy and the ground was hard, a lot of the boys were really blowing towards the end because of how hard we were working.
“But it’s fantastic to grind out the win.”
The Lions’ win sets up arguably the biggest clash of the NEAFL season next week when they take on ladder leader Southport on the Gold Coast.
The winner will sit on top of the ladder after 13 rounds and be all but guaranteed a finals spot.
Karnezis is looking forward to the challenge of the Sharks.
“Southport should be a massive test; the biggest game of our season,” Karnezis says.
“We’re really starting to show the other teams that we’re the real deal and I think we’ll prove that this weekend.”
The Lions play Southport away from home Saturday 23 June at 1:30pm.
Sam Canavan reports on Lions Reserves home games.
You can follow him on Twitter - @samcanavan - for live match updates on game-days
