BRISBANE flexed its premiership muscles with a record-breaking demolition of Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Thursday night.
Four days after eking out a narrow win over St Kilda in Melbourne, the Lions were full of run in kicking the highest score in club history with a 12.13 (85) to 2.4 (16) triumph.
It was also their greatest winning margin, 69 points, and just two points shy of the AFLW record.
The reigning champions jumped out of the blocks, kicking three unanswered goals in the opening 10 minutes on the way to a fifth straight win.
It sets up a mouth-watering contest against Melbourne at Metricon next Monday night.
Livewire Courtney Hodder was back to her best, kicking two goals from 17 disposals and winning the QClash Medal for best afield.
She left the field with two minutes remaining after a head clash with Viv Saad.
Sophie Conway (17 disposals), Belle Dawes (17) and Emily Bates (23 and 14 tackles) were also instrumental in the win as the Lions had nine individual goalkickers.
Brisbane was dominant from the outset, matching Gold Coast around the stoppages and then getting to the outside quickly and beating them for pace.
Dawes, Taylor Smith (who kicked three goals against her former club) and Orla O'Dwyer kicked early goals to open up a 19-point lead at the first change.
Gold Coast's first goal came five minutes into the final quarter courtesy of Tori Groves-Little, while Sarah Perkins added another shortly after following a brilliant tackle.
THE DIFFERENCE
After an even beginning around the stoppages, Brisbane got on top to dominate the clearance count 26-15. However, the big difference came with what happened next. With Sophie Conway and Orla O'Dwyer on the outside, the Lions burnt Gold Coast for overlap run and speed, able to get the ball inside 50 quickly to give their forwards plenty of chances. It led to nine individual goalkickers and a record team score.
WHO'S THAT?
Gold Coast was given a rude reminder why it should rue letting Taylor Smith from its grasp two years ago. The lanky Brisbane forward – who played one game for the Suns in 2020 before they delisted her – kicked three goals in one of her best games for the Lions. Her body work one-on-one was excellent, and combined with the impressive Jesse Wardlaw, the pair more than made up for the absence of Dakota Davidson (concussion).
SAY WHAT?
"We were comprehensively outplayed. We know they're a really good footy team and we certainly respect that, but we've got a game in five days' time against the Dogs and we've got to get some respect back, which I think we'd earned in the first five rounds, but we lost a little bit tonight." – Gold Coast coach Cameron Joyce
"Your dream game, how you want to set it up, they were terrific. They like the challenge. Coming down here tonight and making sure we put on a good show against our arch-rival but the big clubs that around us on the ladder, that seems to bring out the best in them, so we are really looking forward to Monday night." – Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich
WHAT'S NEXT?
Brisbane has its sternest test since the opening round when it plays Melbourne at Metricon Stadium on Monday night at 6.10pm AEST.
GOLD COAST 0.1 0.2 0.2 2.4 (16)
BRISBANE 3.2 6.8 8.13 12.13 (85)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Groves-Little, Perkins
Brisbane: Smith 3, Hodder 2, Anderson, Dawes, Conway, Farquharson, O'Dwyer, C.Svarc, Wardlaw
BEST
Gold Coast: Surman, Howarth, Stanton
Brisbane: Hodder, Conway, Dawes, O'Dwyer, Bates, Campbell
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Brisbane: Hodder (head)
