The Brisbane Lions' premiership defence is hitting somewhere near top gear and there's plenty in reserve for Chris Fagan, who is forecasting selection headaches for the table-toppers.

A 12th win from the last 13 encounters with Gold Coast on Sunday at the Gabba followed the Lions' dominance of St Kilda a week earlier.

They're now 7-1 and back on top of the AFL ladder, despite acknowledging struggles with team defence and consistency around the stoppages.

Fagan's side were ominously dominant in those two areas on a wet night in Brisbane on Sunday, a ruthless third term setting up a comfortable 9.12 (62) to 7.7 (49) scoreline that flattered the Suns.

Midfielders Will Ashcroft, Hugh McCluggage, Lachie Neale and Josh Dunkley put on a clinic as the Lions won clearances 47-28.

Charlie Cameron ended a three-game goal drought with a trio of majors, the small forward also missing two set-shot snaps he would normally swallow up.

And Jack Payne returned from illness to put the clamps on Coleman Medal leader Ben King, who didn't touch the ball until the third term.

Suns coach Damien Hardwick tipped his cap to the "humming" Lions, and Fagan couldn't hide his delight.

"The past two weeks we're getting back to somewhere near what we look like when we play our best footy," the coach said.

"The boys have embraced the pressure stuff and team defence side of things, and we've got good results on the back of that."

That effort came hours after Keiden Coleman's impressive return from a knee reconstruction in a two-point VFL win against the Suns.

Coleman had a team-high 28 disposals, 10 marks and five tackles in his first game since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in round one last year, 14 months ago.

Fellow defender Tom Doedee also starred, the Adelaide recruit playing his fourth game since overcoming back-to-back knee reconstructions.

Doedee had initially been reluctant to put his name forward for AFL selection, but has told Fagan he is ready for a recall.

Sam Day (hamstring) will likely be sidelined, but the coach said forwards Kai Lohmann (shoulder) and Logan Morris (calf) should both be available to face North Melbourne in Hobart next week.

It creates a selection headache for the coach, who took his side to the flag with Coleman, Doedee, Darcy Gardiner and Lincoln McCarthy all sidelined by knee injuries last year.

"We've got a few coming at us," Fagan said.

"He (Coleman) has got to push his way into the side ... I'm reluctant to change a group that's doing a good job, and sometimes it's good to get a second game, third game back.

"Selection is going to be hard, but it's a good problem to have."