Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick has put on notice the lack of "protection" midfielder Matt Rowell receives from the umpires.
Hardwick described Rowell as "too honest" after a second consecutive week of 16 disposals and hindered impact, with Brisbane's on-ball brigade putting plenty of work into the former Pick 1.
The 23-year-old managed only one clearance on the night, and was forced to watch the Lions midfielder run amok in QClash 28 at the Gabba.
"He does battle, and he doesn't get a lot of protection, I'm not gonna lie," Hardwick said.
"He's too honest, if that makes sense. He needs to be looked after more. He's a ball player. Brisbane did an outstanding job tonight, I'm talking throughout the course of the year, he doesn't get enough protection for a ball player.
"They target him, and they hold and they scrap. He needs some help."
Hardwick conceded that the reigning premiers were the superior side, with the Ashcrofts (Will and Levi), Josh Dunkley, Lachie Neale and Hugh McCluggage influencing the result.
The Suns were smashed in clearances (47-28), contested possessions (147-125), and tackles (67-52), which is a true indication of being outhunted.
"We just couldn't control the midfield battle at all," Hardwick said.
"It's a pretty easy analysis when you get beaten by that amount of contested ball.
"Sometimes you can lose clearances, but you've got to make up for it in the turnover game, and we couldn't quite get that up and going.
"There's a reason this side was holding up the premiership cup nine games ago, they're pretty good."
Gold Coast speedster Lachie Weller is likely to be ruled out for the next few weeks, according to Hardwick, due to a hamstring injury he sustained in the opening term.
In-form small forward Ben Long is hopeful of regaining his spot against the Western Bulldogs in Round 9 as the club were more "conservative" this week after he felt tightness in his hamstring.
