Suns coach Damien Hardwick singles out unheralded star Jarrod Witts for big praise after win over Lions
The Suns had lost 12 of the past 13 Queensland derbies, but flipped the script in a dominant 20.10 (130) to 9.10 (64) romp at a wet People First Stadium.
Captain Noah Anderson (33 touches) did the early damage, while Matt Rowell (37 touches, 14 clearances, 12 tackles) won the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for best on ground.
Hardwick's selection calls were also vindicated with the recalled Alex Davies (30 touches, 10 tackles) and Jy Farrar (three goals) making strong contributions in their first senior games of the season.
Ben Long rediscovered his early-season form with four majors and Bailey Humphrey (three goals, eight tackles) also shone, but Hardwick was quick to point to ruckman Witts after the match.
'Can I make a statement about Jarrod Witts ... I watched TV the other day that had a list of ruckmen that are in the mix, go and have a look at what our guy has done to those guys,' he said.
'Start having the conversation about how good this guy has become.
'He's been unbelievable, so just have a deeper dive into it to see what he's actually become.'
Melbourne captain Max Gawn, Sydney star Brodie Grundy, North Melbourne big man Tristan Xerri and Collingwood gun Darcy Cameron are widely talked about as the likely candidates in the mix for All-Australian.
But Hardwick said he wouldn't take any of them ahead of Witts.
'I'd love to have him as All-Australian, I wouldn't pick another ruckman over this guy.'
Victory, in front of 20,833 fans, was the Suns' biggest in a QClash, while their 12th win this season is a club-high.
The win also gave the Suns a 2-1 record against the competition's top three sides in their past three games. Gold Coast now with just one top-eight opponent in their final five regular-season games.
Meanwhile, the premiers next travel to the MCG to face table-topping Collingwood as part of a tough run to September.
Brisbane started well with goals to Callum Ah Chee and Neale, before the Suns, fresh off an Adelaide battering a week earlier, responded.
Witts set the tone at the bounce, while Davies threw his 193cm frame around and fit-again Sam Collins imposed himself in defence.
The contest was drifting in the second quarter until skipper Anderson again took it by the scruff with a goal and assist inside a minute.
His first drifted over the pack and was toed on the line by Farrar, before he produced a repeat of his Collingwood match-winner a fortnight earlier, streaking from the centre square and nailing a major from 50 metres after a neat one-two.
The Suns' fine kicking continued when Long threaded the needle, creating a 33-point half-time buffer as heavy rain started to fall.
It didn't slow Farrar, who benefited from another clever Witts tap to squeeze through his third goal.
Rowell was running freely in a dominant third term, with Ben Ainsworth and Long's goals swelling the lead beyond 50 points to effectively kill the contest.
Neale still amassed 36 touches, while Cam Rayner kicked three late goals to go with 19 disposals for Brisbane.
Lions utility Conor McKenna (hamstring) was substituted at half-time.
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