Two victories may be double what some experts believed the Gold Coast Suns would win in their debut AFL season.

And to mark No.2 against the Brisbane Lions made it all the sweeter for the Suns, leaving their big-brother neighbours winless in 2011.

But lessons learned from their capitulation to Essendon ensured the Suns' celebrations were quickly curtailed after their eight-point upset at the Gabba on Saturday night.

A fortnight ago the Suns went into party mode after their historic maiden victory over Port in Adelaide.

Next round Essendon played the role of party poopers as they piled on a record 94 first term points to run out 139-point winners over the shellshocked Suns.

As much as he savoured Saturday night's victory, Suns coach Guy McKenna said the Bombers debacle would be in the back of their minds against the Crows in Adelaide on Saturday.

"The week is done, we have won but hopefully we have learned a lot from Port," McKenna said.

"This week against Adelaide hopefully we won't be a bit blase like we were against Essendon."

Jared Brennan had every reason to cut loose after inspiring the Suns against his former team who had branded him a "mercenary" in the lead-up to Queensland's AFL derby.

But Brennan said: "No, we didn't go crazy like we did after that first win. We will enjoy the moment then move on."

The Suns' subdued victory reaction was in stark contrast to their pre-match talk.

In a war of words with the Lions, McKenna copped the most flak for his extraordinary claim that the Suns were put on the Gold Coast to clean up the mess left by the Brisbane Bears.

In the only backward step the Suns made on Saturday night, McKenna tried to explain the comments post-match.

"I was more talking about the void from when they (Bears) started full-time in 1987 ... on the Gold Coast until 1993 and moved up to Brisbane - the void from there until 2011, that was what I was referring to," McKenna said.

"It's easy for me to pick a fight, I didn't have to go out there.

"But these boys were terrific, we were under no illusions after what Essendon did to us ... and Brisbane came hard."

When the dust settled, Daniel Gorringe (hamstring) had been subbed early, Brennan and Nathan Bock had suffered injuries but battled on and skipper Gary Ablett was "taped up like a mummy".

McKenna insisted Ablett would back up against Adelaide despite nursing his ribs as he walked off the field.

Gun midfielder David Swallow may be on doubt after the No.1 Draft pick's third quarter effort on Andrew Raines left Ablett's tagger concussed and unable to continue.

The Gold Coast led throughout until Ash McGrath (six goals) helped the Lions lock up the scores twice in the final term before Nathan Krakouer (five goals) eased McKenna's nerves.

It was an amazing comeback by Krakouer who had battled fitness issues.

"To finish with five goals and a contender for mark of the year (in the final term) is amazing, it showed a bit about his character," McKenna said.

"His talent is still untapped though."

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