Cameron, Lions mids flex to continue QClash dominance
Charlie Cameron has burst to life as the Brisbane Lions shot to the top of the AFL ladder and put Gold Coast in their place in a lopsided QClash.
The Suns entered 5-1, sitting third with ambition to prove their mettle against the reigning premiers.
But, in driving rain and after a hard-fought first half, the Lions' midfield dominated the clearances and their small forwards profited in a 9.12 (66) to 7.7 (49) Sunday night Gabba win.
Three late goals flattered the Suns and helped them narrowly avoid their lowest score in 28 meetings as a QClash record crowd of 33,612 gathered to watch the Lions' 12th win from these teams' past 13 meetings.
Lachie Neale, Will Ashcroft and Hugh McCluggage had 27 of the Lions' 47 clearances, while the Suns mustered just 28 in total.
With 34 disposals, Will Ashcroft won the medal for best afield in a QClash, named in honour of his father, former Lions star Marcus.
Josh Dunkley kept Matt Rowell quiet to complete the Lions' midfield masterclass.
Cameron (three goals) hadn't kicked a goal in three games but had two in as many minutes in the second term thanks to some quick footwork and a handy grubber off the deck.
He missed two snaps he would usually swallow up but marked strongly and moved well to look back to his threatening best after a quiet start to the season.
The margin was just 11 points at halftime and the Suns looked ripe to push the Lions after halting the hosts' momentum and getting forward themselves.
But they wasted opportunities with long bombs into the Lions' defensive zone, easily picked off by Harris Andrews, who repelled and allowed Cameron and Callum Ah Chee (three goals) to prosper.
A 12-clearance difference in the third term was the biggest for the Suns since 2019 and led to a five-goals-to-one quarter that ended the fight.
The Lions (7-1), wearing their inaugural 1987 Brisbane Bears guernsey in a retro throwback, jumped to first after Collingwood's loss to Geelong on Saturday.
Former Suns forward Sam Day had a forgettable night against his old team, subbed out with a hamstring injury in the first quarter.
Lachie Weller (hamstring) was also an early casualty for the Suns.
Bailey Humphrey added a quirky chapter to the QClash's history book, gifting Jarrod Berry a goal after his bizarre antics on the mark gave away a 50 metre penalty.
Berry, kicking after the siren, hadn't made the distance from outside the arc but got another chance from the top of the goal square after Humphrey had grabbed a handful of turf and under-armed it towards him as he kicked for goal.
It was the Lions' only goal in a hotly-contested first quarter.
Coleman Medal leader Ben King was well held by the returning Jack Payne, and was unable to get a touch until kicking his first goal in the third quarter.
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