Damien Hardwick has called for better "protection" of Matt Rowell after the Gold Coast midfielder's quiet night against Brisbane and argued the result wasn't indicative of the gap between his Suns and the best.
Gold Coast looked up for the fight at the Gabba on Sunday when they finished the first half with some momentum and trailing by just 11 points.
But they were smashed in clearances 47-28, the third quarter one-way traffic as the Lions shot clear for a 12th win from the last 13 encounters.
Three late goals papered some cracks for the Suns in a 9.12 (62) to 7.7 (49) loss in wet conditions, Hardwick's side falling to 5-2 while the reigning champions (7-1) regained top spot on the ladder.
"We were hoping to be better," the coach said.
"We saw the demolition of the Saints (by the Lions) last week and similar today.
"We've got some things we can get to work on and we know the answers."
Will Ashcroft (34 disposals, nine clearances), Lachie Neale (25 and 10) and Hugh McCluggage (30 and eight) showed their class while Josh Dunkley (26 disposals) kept Suns stoppage king Rowell to just 16 touches and one clearance.
Rowell, off contract beyond this year and in demand, began the season brilliantly but was also kept relatively quiet in a 16-disposal game against Sydney last week.
He'd had at least 10 clearances in three of his previous six games and averages 6.4 in his 91-game career.
"He does battle and he doesn't get a lot of protection (from officials), I'm not going to lie," Hardwick said of the 23-year-old.
The coach believes his midfield bull could be appealing for more free kicks given the man-handling he receives around the contest.
"He's too honest ... he needs to be looked after more, I'm talking throughout the course of the year,' he said.
"He doesn't get enough protection for a ball player.
"He played forward tonight, did some stuff up there as well (to try to get into the contest).
"A proud kid, he'll get to work ... he's had a very, very good year and a couple of quieter weeks."
The Suns, now in fourth, will play sixth-placed Western Bulldogs and third-placed Hawthorn at home-away-from-home Darwin in the next fortnight.
"That's the best place to be," Hardwick said of the challenge ahead.
"Instead of running away from it you step straight into it."
He didn't agree that the one-sided loss to the Lions, who he said were now "humming", meant his side were off the pace.
"The game interconnects. With your contested ball being belted ... you don't give yourself a chance," he said.
"The game could look very different ... but when they absolutely destroy you in that part of the ground ... so, hard to say."
