The Brisbane Lions have outclassed Queensland rivals Gold Coast by 36 points to prove they are still an AFLW premiership threat.
Rattled by an upset five-point loss to Collingwood last round, Brisbane regained their ruthlessness to blitz their closest rivals 8.9 (57) to 3.3 (21) and snatch their fourth consecutive QClash win on Saturday at Heritage Bank Stadium.
"Human nature says you’re always more desperate and hungry after a loss," Lions coach Craig Starcevich said after the match.
"You’d expect that from professional athletes every week.
"We’ve let a couple slip through our fingers this year. The record could be a lot better than what it is."
Plenty was on the line with the Suns able to leapfrog the Lions into the top four with victory.
A masterclass by 50-gamer Isabel Dawes (21 disposals) and Ally Anderson (27) put an end to those hopes, with the visitors boasting six goalkickers.
Rising powerhouse Charlie Rowbottom was typically prolific for Gold Coast with 22 disposals and four clearances, while Vivien Saad (14 intercept possessions) was prodigious in defence.
The electric Sophie Conway (two goals) set the tone with a superb goal less than 30 seconds into the opening term for Brisbane.
Claudia Whitford responded for the Suns, but only wayward kicking prevented their arch-rivals' lead from being greater at halftime with Brisbane up 4.5 (29) to 2.0 (12).
The margin blew out in the third quarter, but Gold Coast remained true to their 'never say die' attitude with Jacqueline Dupuy (two goals) snapping truly to cut down a 31-point deficit.
Dupuy looked certain to get her third in a bid to keep the Suns' hopes alive but shanked the ball across goal.
With Gold Coast tiring, a second major by Lily Postlethwaite in the final term sealed a Lions win.
"We weren’t under any illusion as to what we were going to get tonight," Suns coach Cameron Joyce said.
"We made some ground but we’ve got work to do, just in our ability to absorb the real high-level pressure of the best teams."
The road to finals will not get any easier for Brisbane (5-2) with a clash against the undefeated Adelaide Crows slated for next round.
Meanwhile, Gold Coast (4-3) could bounce back when they take on 15th-placed Port Adelaide.
