IT WAS billed as the biggest game in Queensland’s football history. And perhaps the chance for “little brother” Gold Coast to get one-up on its older sibling with what would top the triumph of last week’s breathtaking win over Fremantle.
But it was the reigning premier and big brother Brisbane that remains king of the Sunshine State after bringing the Suns’ inspiring finals run to an end, piecing together a commanding 53-point win at the Gabba without so much as a misstep to keep its premiership defence intact.
With their backs against the wall after last week’s crushing qualifying defeat to Geelong and pressure mounting with their star on-baller in Lachie Neale forced to the sidelines with a calf injury, the Lions rallied in style with a dominant siren-to-siren showing to bury their younger Queensland counterparts 14.16 (100) to 6.11 (47).
Built off their aggressive movement through the middle of the ground and subsequent scores rebounding out of the back half, dominance at clearance (43-26) and the midfield Fab Four of Josh Dunkley (20 disposals, 18 tackles), Will Ashcroft (28 disposals, two goals), Hugh McCluggage (33 disposals) and Cam Rayner (16 disposals, one goal), the Lions fired all the shots and pulled all the right moves to book themselves into next Saturday’s preliminary final against Collingwood at the MCG.
Ashcroft was arguably pick of the bunch with his sharp skills and effortless coverage of the ground, but it was close to splitting hairs between the negating role of Dunkley on Matt Rowell, power of Rayner and finesse of McCluggage, who shook off last week’s 14-disposal game – his lowest total of the season – to finish with a game-high 33 touches.
Rowell still racked up 23 disposals alongside Touk Miller (28) and Noah Anderson (26), but even with the valiant efforts of Sam Collins in the key defensive post, Gold Coast had no answers to halt its classy opponent’s run, firing through just three goals after quarter-time.
The Suns got the jump early, Ben King forcing Chris Fagan to move the defensive magnets as he fired through two majors, however it was close to the only real threat to the Lions’ hopes of going deep into September as they wrestled back control.
Brisbane’s sharp ball use through the corridor and audacious transition from defensive-50 into attack through the likes of Dayne Zorko (26 disposals), became increasingly difficult for Gold Coast to rein in, and coupled with an unrelenting punishment on turnover, opened the gates for a six-goal second term which ultimately broke the game open.
Will Ashcroft’s pair of goals had the Lions firing on all cylinders – his first a superb snap off the back of stoppage – and the margin steadily growing. But not to be outdone, Rayner launched a whopping roost on the run from just ahead of the centre circle to deliver the goal of the night.
As Brisbane’s control on the game and stoppages steadily tightened, Gold Coast’s composure began to falter. Any slip-up was quickly pounced upon by the wounded Lions, and in the blink of an eye fired back into attack.
The shockingly lockless Kai Lohmann put the margin out to a game-high 20 points off such a turnover, and then Zac Bailey to 25 with less than a minute to play before the Suns could regroup at the main break. But the Lions’ class and dare made the deficit feel far greater.
It forced Damien Hardwick to pull last week’s match-winning levers far earlier than anticipated. Mac Andrew was swung forward after half-time in the hopes of producing a clutch goal to get his side back in the hunt, while last week’s last-minute hero and substitute David Swallow – in what would be his final game after 249 matches for the Suns – was injected into the contest midway through the third quarter in place of Ethan Read.
However, after last weekend’s scintillating heroics over Fremantle away from home which handed them their maiden finals win, it seemed as if the Suns had used up all their petrol tickets and were left no choice by the relentless Lions but to pump the brakes.
Beginning to stagnate, Gold Coast was held goalless in the third quarter in opposition to Brisbane’s three, with four-gamer Ty Gallop’s maiden major whipping the Gabba crowd into a frenzy as a preliminary final berth inched ever closer.
Ben Ainsworth finally broke the Lions’ run of six consecutive goals midway through the fourth term, however it was too little too late as Brisbane roared – and soared – on Queensland’s biggest football stage to-date.
Hugh can’t keep McCluggage down
It’s as simple as this: when Hugh McCluggage is at his best, so are is Brisbane. Emblematic of the Lions’ bouncing back after facing the heat, McCluggage shrugged off last week’s 14-disposal game – which coincided with a 38-point loss to Geelong – to be an integral cog in Brisbane’s one-sided outing over Gold Coast, rounding out his evening with 33 disposals, 10 clearances and six inside-50s to stand comfortably as one of his side’s best. With Lachie Neale sidelined with a calf injury and putting a major dent into the Lions’ engine room, All-Australian McCluggage more than picked up the slack to prove his standing as one of the competition’s premier midfielders, both on the inside and outside.
Hugh McCluggage during the Semi Final between Brisbane and Gold Coast at The Gabba, September 13, 2025. Picture: Getty Images
He Cam in like a wrecking ball
Cam Rayner was all over the headlines after last weekend’s contentious double free kick drew the commentary and criticism of pundits all over, but this time around nothing could knock the powerful Lion down. Spending extended time around stoppages and through the midfield in the absence of injured dual-Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale, the livewire Rayner was the X-factor the Lions were so desperately hoping for to fill the void. Breaking opposition tackles with ease (eight for the night) and laying unstoppable fend-offs for fun, the 25-year-old saved his best for a mind-boggling roost from the centre square which bounced through to give the Lions critical momentum heading towards half-time. Should Rayner carry this vein of form into next week’s preliminary final against Collingwood, supporters both Brisbane and otherwise are in for a treat.
King officially claims the Suns’ goalkicking throne
It only took two minutes for Ben King to stamp his presence on Saturday’s semi-final with the opening major of the game, and then another 10 minutes later to etch himself into Gold Coast’s fledgling history books. Officially ousting ex-Sun Tom Lynch as the club’s all-time leading goalkicker (254), the latest accolade caps off a career-best campaign for the Suns spearhead which came complete with selection in the All-Australian squad and a personal-best 71 goals for the season. King had kicked a goal in every game this season outside of last week’s elimination final, and no doubt will be a critical component in the Suns’ charge to September in 2026.
Ben King during the Semi Final between Brisbane and Gold Coast at the Gabba, September 13, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos
BRISBANE 3.5 9.6 12.10 14.16 (100)
GOLD COAST 3.4 5.5 5.9 6.11 (47)
GOALS
Brisbane: Bailey 3, Lohmann 3, Morris 2, W. Ashcroft 2, Ah Chee, Berry, Rayner, Gallop
Gold Coast: King 2, Anderson, Rowell, Fiorini, Ainsworth
BEST
Brisbane: W. Ashcroft, Dunkley, McCluggage, Rayner, Andrews, Bailey, Berry, Wilmot
Gold Coast: Collins, Rowell, Witts, Miller, Anderson
INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Gold Coast: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane: Bruce Reville (replaced Sam Marshall in the fourth quarter)
Gold Coast: David Swallow (replaced Ethan Read in the third quarter)
Crowd: TBC at the Gabba
