MATCH PREVIEW: Gold Coast SUNS v Brisbane Lions

NEAFL ROUND 10

Saturday, June 8, 2019
Gold Coast SUNS (9th) v Brisbane Lions (1st)
Metricon Stadium, 11.55am

SUMMARY

It’s the NEAFL QClash this weekend and you could not have two more contrasting sides at the moment. The Lions are flying, unbeaten through eight games and top of the ladder coming off a big victory over the Swans last weekend.

The SUNS, reeling with injuries, went down to the GIANTS last week and are now sitting in ninth with just two victories for the season, and facing ladder leaders Brisbane and Southport in their next two matches.

RECENT ENCOUNTERS

Round 4, 2019: Brisbane 24.15 (159) def. Gold Coast 9.8 (62) at Metricon Stadium
Round 20, 2018: Brisbane 17.15 (117) def. Gold Coast 3.8 (26) at Metricon Stadium
Round 17, 2018: Brisbane 11.16 (82) def. Gold Coast 10.1 (61) at Metricon Stadium

TALKING POINTS

1.  Can anyone stop the Lions? Undefeated through nine rounds, including two crushing victories of Sydney - one of the competition's frontrunners. Whilst they’re yet to face Southport, the Lions are looking a class above this year. They have some injury concerns this week which will see the lowest amount of listed players they've had all year, so a real chance awaits Gold Coast at home.
2. Injuries are beginning to hit the SUNS senior list and as a result the NEAFL depths have been tested; something that saw the SUNS 2018 results plummet. Izak Rankine, Brad Scheer, Aaron Young are all within a fortnight away while Touk Miller and Jarrod Harbrow are returning this weekend which should alleviate the depth issues to a degree. And they will need it for the match-up against the ladder leading Lions this weekend.
3. Two midfielders from both sides - Brisbane's Jacob Allison and Gold Coast's Will Brodie - have been duly rewarded with AFL selection this week after several good performances of late. Despite their losses, it should be a fantastic battle in the midfield this week with these two clubs at the front of the pack when it comes to contested possessions and clearances so far this season.

ROOKIE WATCH

Keidean Coleman again is lighting up the competition with three goals and 14 disposals in last week's win against the Swans. The Lions Academy member also enjoyed a solid match against the SUNS in Round 4, booting three goals as well as finding 21 disposals.

STATS THAT MATTER

The Brisbane Lions have dominated the competition and when analysing the statistics it is not hard to see why. The Lions lead the competition in inside 50s, with 13 more entries then any other team on average through the season so far. The Lions are also dominant throughout the whole ground in 2019, collecting 407 disposals a game, nearly 20 more then the next best team Southport on 389. No doubt pleasing to coach Mitch Hahn is the Lions leading contested possessions in the competition this year as well with 160 disposals every week with Sydney the next team behind on 150. 

PREDICTION

Lions to be too strong, Brisbane by 30.

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