Three straight losses had raised questions about Brisbane’s premiership credentials. Logan Morris helped provide the answer with a career-best seven-goal performance.
The young forward delivered the best game of his AFL career as the Lions snapped their losing streak and tightened their grip on the QClash rivalry, defeating Gold Coast 15.16 (106) to 11.9 (75) at People First Stadium in Round 13 of the 2026 AFL Premiership season.
In a game Brisbane badly needed, Morris was the standout, but he had plenty of company. Lachie Neale was outstanding around the contest, the Lions controlled the stoppages for much of the evening, and the visitors looked far more like the side that lifted last year’s premiership cup than the team that had dropped its previous three matches.
The result handed Brisbane a timely boost heading into the middle of the season and extended a remarkable run of success against their Queensland rivals.
Lions Strike First and Keep Their Foot on the Pedal
The visitors could hardly have asked for a better start.
Jarrod Berry opened the scoring inside the first two minutes before Charlie Cameron and Morris added goals as Brisbane raced to a four-goal lead.
Gold Coast eventually settled through Ben King, but the Lions had already established the shape of the contest. They were winning the ball at the source, forcing turnovers and moving it with far greater purpose than they had shown in recent weeks.
Morris was at the centre of much of the early damage. The key forward kicked two goals in the opening term and looked dangerous whenever the ball entered Brisbane’s attacking arc.
By quarter-time the Lions held a 4.3 to 2.2 advantage and carried clear momentum.
Morris Turns a Strong Night Into a Career Night
Gold Coast made its move early in the second quarter.
King’s second goal narrowed the gap and the Suns enjoyed a period of territorial control as Ned Moyle gave the home side first use around stoppages.
The challenge lasted only briefly.
Morris took over.
He kicked four goals in the second term alone, finding space inside 50 and making the most of his opportunities. By halftime he had five majors beside his name and Brisbane had stretched the margin to 34 points.
While Morris was finishing the work, Neale was driving it. The dual Brownlow medallist repeatedly won contested possessions and clearances, helping Brisbane control both the tempo and field position. Gold Coast stars Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson were restricted to single-digit disposal counts by the main break as Brisbane’s midfield asserted itself.
Suns Keep Coming, But Brisbane Has the Answers
The Suns were far from finished.
King continued to present a threat, Jed Walter hit the scoreboard and Christian Petracca worked his way into the contest as Gold Coast searched for a route back into the match.
There were moments when the margin looked manageable. There were periods when the home crowd sensed a surge.
Each time Brisbane found a response.
Ty Gallop, Conor McKenna and Darcy Fort all contributed important goals, while Morris pushed his tally to six before the final change.
The Lions were not flawless. Their finishing occasionally let them down and Gold Coast remained efficient whenever it generated opportunities. But Brisbane consistently won the critical contests around the ball and prevented the Suns from building sustained momentum.
Midfield Battle Decides the Contest
Much of the damage was done at stoppages.
Brisbane finished with a 31-21 advantage in clearances and generated more than twice as many inside-50 entries from stoppages as Gold Coast. The Lions converted that dominance into a significant scoring advantage from the source that mattered most.
Neale was central to that effort.
The dual Brownlow medallist produced one of his strongest displays of the season and joined an exclusive group of Lions players to record at least 35 disposals, 19 contested possessions and 10 clearances in a QClash.
For a Brisbane side that had been searching for its identity over the previous month, the performance around the contest was perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the night.
A Statement Finish
Gold Coast never stopped attacking.
King finished with four goals, while Ben Long added two in the final quarter as the Suns continued to search for a late rally.
Brisbane never looked rattled.
Its pressure remained high, its midfield continued to win territory and, fittingly, Morris delivered the final flourish. His seventh goal arrived midway through the last term, setting a new career high and capping a performance that will rank among the finest of his young career.
When the final siren sounded, the Lions had ended their losing streak with a 31-point victory and reminded the competition that they remain a dangerous proposition when their best football surfaces.
For a side that entered the night under scrutiny, it was exactly the response Brisbane needed.
Goals
Gold Coast: Ben King 4, Jed Walter 2, Ben Long 2, Matt Rowell, Christian Petracca, Mac Andrew
Brisbane: Logan Morris 7, Charlie Cameron 2, Jarrod Berry, James Tunstill, Sam Draper, Ty Gallop, Conor McKenna, Darcy Fort
Final Score
Brisbane Lions 15.16 (106)
Gold Coast Suns 11.9 (75)
