Brisbane Lions vs Gold Coast Preview & Prediction | 2025 AFL | Semi-Final

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A wounded Brisbane outfit faces a fight for its season and state supremacy when it hosts crosstown rival Gold Coast in the first-ever Q-Clash final at the Gabba on Saturday.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Some matches are televised on Fox Sports channels

How to watch online: UK – discovery+ & Watch AFL / US – Watch AFL

The prediction

The Brisbane Lions were humbled in their 38-point qualifying final loss to Geelong and suffered a catastrophic blow with co-captain Lachie Neale ruled out for the season with a calf injury. Despite trailing by only 15 points at the half, the Lions never fired a shot in the second half and were well-beaten all over the field.

The Gold Coast Suns are riding a wave of emotion after sealing a historic maiden finals victory, a thrilling one-point elimination final win over Fremantle in Perth. Despite the long road trip west the Suns showed remarkable resolve to pull off the big upset.

Key Players:

Brisbane midfielder Josh Dunkley fought hard in the loss to Geelong, laying a game-high 11 tackles to go with his 30 disposals and goal.

Gold Coast's midfield bulls were dominant against Fremantle, with Matt Rowell (34 disposals) and Noah Anderson (32 disposals) leading their side to a famous victory.

Head-to-Head:

The season series is tied 1-1, but the most recent encounter was a stunning 66-point demolition by the Suns in Round 20, a record margin in Q-Clash history.

Brisbane face a monumental task. The loss of Lachie Neale is a blow that few teams could withstand, and they confront a Gold Coast side not only buoyed by a historic victory but also holding the psychological edge from their recent Round 20 annihilation. The Suns have a golden opportunity to end their rival's season and emphatically announce a new order in Queensland football.

This match has all the indicators of a Suns victory, riding their momentum from last week. These are the matches all year the Lions have been expected to lose and have flipped the script each time. Despite the odds being stacked against them this time, we think the experience of the Lions can overcome the loss of their star to lead them back to Melbourne for a showdown with the Pies.

Brisbane Lions vs Gold Coast tip: Brisbane Lions to win