Brisbane have stamped their premiership credentials with a devastating display as they thumped Gold Coast by 73 points in the AFLW QClash at the Gabba.
The Lions were ruthless against their closest rivals as they piled on 12.10 (82) to 1.3 (9) on Saturday with Jesse Wardlaw doing much of the damage with four goals.
The electrifying Wardlaw was an influence around the ground as well as close to goal, while Emily Bates was at her brilliant best with 21 disposals and 11 tackles.
The reigning AFLW best and fairest champion, Bates was one of several standouts in a dominant midfield along with ball-winners Alexandra Anderson (28 disposals, one goal) and Phoebe Monahan (25).
Greta Bodey was another goal threat for the Lions and finished with three majors while Zimmorlei Farquharson added two.
Records were re-written as the Suns suffered their biggest AFLW loss, while the Lions' 33 goals across the opening three rounds sets a new benchmark for the competition.
The Lions have had little trouble scoring this season but they showed against the Suns that they can also match it with the best defensively as they conceded only the one goal.
The QClash looked far from one-sided when the Suns matched their more fancied opponents for the opening 10 minutes but once Wardlaw kicked the first goal the dam wall burst and the Lions added two more in as many minutes.
The Suns were scoreless and trailing by 42 points at half-time but were more competitive after the main break and had multiple shots on goal to at least get some reward for their efforts.
Charlie Rowbottom led the way for the Suns with 16 disposals and should learn a lot from facing the Lions' onball brigade, while veterans Lauren Ahrens (16) and Alison Drennan (15) also battled hard.
Ellie Hampson (12 possessions) and Shannon Danckert (9) also fought out the game as they returned to the side but the Lions again proved that the Suns need to add more talent to hope to compete with the top teams.
Brisbane can expect a tougher challenge when they hit the road to take on Melbourne next Sunday, while Gold Coast head to Mackay to host St Kilda on Saturday.
