Suns claim the Q-clash for their second time, cruising to a 53-point win.
Gold Coast Suns have won the Q-Clash for the second time, thrashing the Brisbane Lions by 53 points in front of a home crowd at Carrara on Saturday afternoon.
Brisbane had won all six meetings between the Queensland rivals since Gold Coast won the first derby in 2011, but at Carrara the Suns ran over the Lions in the second half to win 17.12 (114) to 9.7 (61).
Gary Ablett kicked the opening goal after six minutes, but the Suns struggled to make their advantage around the ground count on the scoreboard, and the home side led by just eight points at quarter-time.
Tall forward Sam Day took over in the second quarter, kicking three goals for Gold Coast as the Suns extended their lead to 14 points at the half.
The Lions got to within eight points early in the third term when Tom Rockliff kicked his second in three minutes, but the Suns then scored the next five majors to kick away.
Day kicked his fourth of the day 40 seconds into the final quarter, and although Rockliff and Marco Paparone managed goals for the Lions, the Suns kicked five goals to three for the quarter to run out easy winners.
The loss was made worse for the Lions with star midfielder Daniel Rich forced to leave in the second quarter with a suspected knee injury.
Gary Ablett finished with 38 possessions, 11 tackles and three goals for the Suns.
Gold Coast Suns: 17.12 (114) – S Day 4, G Ablett 3, D Swallow 2, J Harbrow, T McKenzie, S Lemmens, K Kolodjashnij, B Matera, M Shaw, T Lynch, J O’Meara
Brisbane Lions: 9.7 (61) – T Rockliff 3, M Paparone 2, J Aish, S Mayes, L Taylor, P Hanley
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