Trailing by two points at the final change, Havana Harris kicked two goals and Charlie Rowbottom added another to steer the Suns home, 5.10 (40) to 3.2 (20).

It was the first time in eight meetings Gold Coast have got the better of Big Sister, with the victory entrenching them in the top eight.

Rowbottom continued her magnificent season, winning the best on ground medal for her 36 disposals (20 contested) that included nine clearances along with her snapped goal.

Co-captains Lucy Single (30, six clearances and a brilliant goal) and Niamh McLaughlin (24) were not far behind, playing critical roles to get their team home.

First-year player Ava Usher was a defensive missile, laying a game-high 13 tackles to go along with her 15 disposals, in a performance that typified her team’s intent.

Heidi Talbot (22) also played the best game of her young career.

The Suns camped at Brisbane’s end of the ground, taking the ball inside 50 on 45 occasions to the hosts’ 22, with the weight of possession eventually taking its toll.

Brisbane took advantage of the strong breeze in the opening quarter to kick the game’s first two goals via Lily Postlethwaite and Orla O’Dwyer.

Anne Hatchard rounded out an excellent individual first term with a long-range snap that finished off nice lead-up play from Single to reduce the margin to four points.

The second quarter saw the Suns dominate field position but again struggle to turn it into points.

Single kicked a brilliant individual goal after fending off Sophie Conway to give her team a narrow advantage at the main break.

Single’s Goal of the Year contender
She doesn’t kick many goals, but Gold Coast co-captain Lucy Single ensured her second quarter major will be long remember. Standing off the back of a stoppage on the 50m arc, Single swept up a loose ball, fended off Sophie Conway and after running 10m, drilled her shot from 35m pressed hard up against the right boundary line.

Brisbane almost out of finals calculations
The loss takes Brisbane to a 2-6 record and needing to win the final four games, and hope other results go their way, to sneak into the top eight. After four straight Grand Finals, it looks like a season to reset for the Lions unless something dramatic happens. They battled hard all night, but struggled to win enough of the footy to challenge the Suns.

Next up
Gold Coast looks to make it six straight wins when it plays premiership fancies Melbourne at its home away from home at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay next Saturday (7.15pm AEST). Brisbane has an eight-day break before facing Hawthorn at Dingley’s Kennedy Community Centre at 1.05pm (AEDT) next Sunday.

BRISBANE            2.1       2.2       3.2       3.2 (20)
GOLD COAST        1.3       2.4       2.6       5.10 (40)

GOALS
Brisbane: Postlethwaite, O’Dwyer, Conway
Gold Coast: Harris 2, Hatchard, Single, Rowbottom

BEST 
Brisbane: Hickie, Anderson, Dunne, Mullins, O’Dwyer
Gold Coast: Rowbottom, Single, McLaughlin, Usher, Talbot, Hatchard

INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Gold Coast: Fitzpatrick (knee)

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 3968 at Brighton Homes Arena