Round 3 is back at The Gabba against Collingwood on Thursday 28th March at 6:30pm (local).

Who: Brisbane Lions vs Collingwood Magpies
Where: The Gabba, Vulture St, Woolloongabba QLD 4102
When: Thursday 28th March at 6:30pm (local)
Gates Open: 5:00pm, check your ticket for your entry gate.
Entry Conditions: Please read here

Weekly Notices
Round 3 Experiences → Want to toss the coin or be a junior mascot for the Collingwood Clash? CLOSED ^{Auction closes midday 27 March. T&Cs Apply.}
Lap of Honour → Daniel Rich Retirement 

Tickets → Tickets are ON SALE for Round 3. You can still become a member today and secure your seat!

AreaVIP → Sit like a Fan. Feel like a VIP. 

GG →  SOLD OUT - I’m best served in groups and I’m waiting for you to have your next Instagram-able moment. I’m doing footy a little differently and G, I think you’re going to like me.

The Verandah → SOLD OUT - Presented by Brook's Blooms, immerse yourself in the exclusive privileges of “The Verandah”, boasting access to a private bar, a meticulously styled space, and countless opportunities for capturing unforgettable moments to add to your social media feed.

Premiership Lounge → Offers a luxurious setting to reinvigorate, relax and revel in the golden days of old and new before, during, and after the goosebump-enducing action on field.

Lions Park → CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER. Face painting and World's Greatest Shave Activation located inside The Gabba at Gate 4. 

Food & Drinks → Gabba food and beverage outlets will be open on all levels and gates.

Lions Shop → Our main shop is located near Gate 2, open from 10:00am - late. We will also have a pop up set up in Lions Park from 5:00pm for you to get your merch fix! Gates 2 and 9 are open from when gates open until 10min after first siren. Gate 4, Upper 7, Upper 4 are open from when gates open until 3/4 time. Collingwood merch will be located in the lower level of Gate 7.

Round 3 Runsheet:
10:00am: Lions Shop Opens
4:00pm: Lions Park CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER.
5:00pm: Public Gates
5:47pm: On-field Warmup
5:56pm: Dan Rich Q&A
5:58pm: Dan Rich Lap of Honour
6:18pm: Lions run out
6:30pm: Bounce
QTR Time: TWorld's Greatest Shave & FanCam
HALF Time: Auskick, Birthdays & Community Champion
POST Game: Kick2Kick
$20K guaranteed 50-50 prize

Trains & Buses → The easiest way to get to The Gabba. Your event ticket entitles you to TRAVEL FREE, to and from matches, on the Queensland Rail City Network (excluding Airtrain). Brisbane City Council buses or a special event shuttle service from 4 hours prior to the event.

Woolloongabba Bus Station → From March 2024, a new temporary footpath will be open between Woolloongabba station platform 2 and Main Street on AFL game days. You can also continue to use the pedestrian overpass which has both lifts and stairs. For further information, please visit the @TransLink website or contact Cross River Rail at 1800 010 875.

 
Remember to always plan your trip: Plan ahead →

Parking → There is no public parking at The Gabba. Fifteen minute parking limits apply across most of The Gabba Traffic Area on event days – we strongly recommend taking advantage of the public transport options. Find out more about parking restrictions around The Gabba on the Brisbane City Council website. 

Accessible Parking → An accessibility drop off zone is located near Gate 5 on Linton Street (near Duke St). There is limited accessibility parking across from Gate 5 on Duke St – you will require a PWD permit to access this area and is first in, first served. For all PWD and accessibility information, please visit The Gabba's accessibility page.

Drop Off/Pick Up → Due to road closures and changed traffic conditions we strongly recommend catching public transport to The Gabba, however should you wish to be dropped off or picked up this can be facilitated via designated drop off points just a short walk from the venue on either Princess Street, Potts Street or Hubert Street. Ask your lift legend to type Princess Street, Potts Street or Hubert Street into their GPS. 

Bike, Scooter & Walking → Bike and walking paths are available to access the stadium, snag a e-bike or e-scooter from the City or South Brisbane to get to The Gabba.

Watch → Free to air on Channel 7 or stream on Foxtel, Fox Footy or Kayo.

Remember! Sign up with a Digital Membership to get discounted Kayo! Become a member today →

COLLINGWOOD   4.4     9.9     10.15     12.18 (90)
BRISBANE            3.0     9.3     11.5       13.8 (86) 

GOALS
Collingwood: Hill 4, Crisp 2, De Goey 2, N.Daicos, Mihocek, Pendlebury, Sidebottom
Brisbane: Cameron 3, Daniher 3, Bailey 2, McCarthy 2, McCluggage 2, Robertson

Crowd: 100,024 at the MCG

EASTER THURSDAY BLOCKBUSTER!

There is no better way to start your Easter long weekend than with a blockbuster clash at the Gabba against a fierce rival. The stakes are high, almost finals like, as both teams look to right the wrongs of the last couple of weeks and get their seasons back on track with a much-needed win.

There’s plenty to unpack with this one!

So, put the kettle on, open that bag of easter eggs you’ve been hiding from the family and settle in for this week’s match preview.

Last Time We Met

Last time: Collingwood 12.18 (90) d Brisbane 13.8 (86), Grand Final 2023

Yes, we hate to say it but the last time we faced the Pies was Grand Final Day and yes, we know things didn’t go quite to plan. However, this is a new season, a clean slate and even though both grand finalist from the previous year have not had an ideal start to season 2024, there is everything to play for.

A return to the Gabba, not to mention having won our last four encounters at home against Collingwood, will be a boost for our boys as they look to bounce back in what is the Grand Final rematch.

Excited About

Starce’s Milestone!

It’s an exciting time for one of our Lions, with Brandon Starcevich set to run out for his 100^th AFL game tomorrow night!

Starce has been a stalwart in the Lions back six since making his debut in 2018 and has come off another strong season in 2023, which saw him finish top five in our club Best and Fairest.

Often tasked with handling the best small forwards in the competition, Starce looks set for another big match-up come Thursday night with Collingwood’s crafty small forward, Bobby Hill. Starcevich’s trademark competitive flair and athleticism both on the ground and in the air, that has made him an iconic figure of our defensive fifty line-up, will be on full display as the pair go head-to-head.

Match-ups we're keen for

Where do we even begin.

Everywhere you look across the ground on Thursday night there will be match-up you won’t want to take your eyes off.

Daniher vs Moore, Dunkley vs De Goey, Cameron vs Maynard, Andrews vs Mihocek. The Easter eggs just keep on coming. Excuse the pun.

One that stands out though....

Lachie Neale vs Nick Daicos

What’s not to like about this one! The reigning Brownlow medallist up against arguably one of the best up-and-coming midfielders in the competition and both will go toe-to-toe in the engine room where the battle will be at its fiercest.

The 247-game veteran Neale has averaged 25 disposals, 5 clearances and 2 tackles to kickstart 2024. Meanwhile, Daicos having just notched game 50 last week has picked up where he left off last season, averaging 31 disposals, 6.7 clearances and 2.7 tackles.

Who gets the chocolates is anyone’s guess, but we can wait to feast our eyes on this Easter Thursday classic!

Don't want to miss a match? Secure your seats with a Lions membership today! 

Collingwood has given its wobbly premiership defence an injection of life with a rousing 20-point win over Brisbane at the Gabba on Thursday night.

With the return of a defensive ferocity that had been missing the first three weeks, the Magpies soared to a 14.8 (92) to 10.12 (72) victory in the Grand Final rematch.
 

They trailed by five points at half-time, then kicked five goals to one in the third to earn some breathing space and stormed home in the last term to send many of the 34,022 home fans scurrying for the exits early.

While Collingwood now moves to a 1-3 win-loss record, the Lions are floundering at 0-3 with a tough month ahead.

Their Gabba fortress has now been penetrated for a second straight time in 2024.

Craig McRae's personnel and positional changes worked a treat, with Nick Daicos (30 disposals and seven score involvements) back to his dazzling and creative best from half-back, alongside recalled running defender John Noble (24).

Jamie Elliott kicked four goals, with his final major symptomatic of the Magpies' desperation, pinning Dayne Zorko holding the ball and then converting his set shot.

Collingwood finished with 85 tackles to Brisbane's 53, a whopping 16 of which came inside forward 50.

The Magpies were beaten at the stoppages (42-34) and inside 50s (56-43), but in a classic contrast of styles, they forced the Lions into turnovers and exploded into action on the rebound.

Veterans Tom Mitchell and Scott Pendlebury were important in the midfield, Jordan De Goey had some nice moments, and Billy Frampton, Jeremy Howe and Darcy Moore worked well in defensive tandem.

After a dominant second quarter grabbed it the lead at half-time, Brisbane really struggled to score, with it three-pronged tall forward line rarely marking the ball inside 50.

Lachie Neale was incredible in the second term and finished with 35 touches that included 10 clearances while Zorko (30) and Hugh McCluggage (29) battled hard.

The result is a second straight loss at the Gabba, where the Lions were unbeaten in 2023.

After a nervous start from both teams that saw plenty of unforced turnovers, Collingwood was first to settle.

Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill was again tormenting the Lions, kicking three first-quarter goals and the Magpies applied a ton of pressure at the contest and ran in waves once they won the ball.

Conversely, Brisbane went long to its tall forwards, who couldn't grab a mark, and watched the Pies link up from half-back via Noble and Daicos, who were both heavily involved in goalscoring chains.

The match changed dramatically in the second quarter.

Led by co-captain Neale's 13 disposals that included five clearances and a calm set shot that began his team's comeback, Brisbane camped inside its forward 50 to arrest the lead by the half.

On the back of 14 clearances to three, it generated 21 inside 50s to two and scored 4.5 as the Magpies went scoreless.

Cam Rayner pinned Darcy Cameron holding the ball and as the siren sounded for half-time, put his team in front with an arrow from 50m.

Brisbane's tough road to the top four, and maybe the top eight

Three matches and three losses for the Lions leaves them in a precarious early-season predicament. Although they still have 20 matches remaining, the coveted top four looks a long way off, and on current form the top eight will be their primary focus. The next month is full of challenges as well, with North Melbourne up next in Gather Round, followed by Melbourne at the MCG, Geelong at the Gabba and Greater Western Sydney at Manuka Oval. Chris Fagan needs a few of his troops to find some form and find it fast.

Pendlebury's out of character action

During a strong bounce-back performance that netted him 21 touches and five tackles, Scott Pendlebury had a strange, out of character moment in the third quarter. With a ball-up about to occur on centre wing, the Magpies champion used an open hand to hit Lachie Neale in the stomach, with some modicum of force. It was enough to drop the dual Brownlow medallist and earn a free kick. It's unlikely to go any further, but the Pies might cast a nervous eye to the Match Review Officer's findings on Friday. 

Fagan back on the bench

After returning to the coaches' box in 2023 following many years on the bench, Chris Fagan made a return to the boundary line against the Magpies. Fagan has never been tied to the box and often said he enjoys the interaction with his players when he's beside the field. Will he continue for the rest of the season after that result?

BRISBANE                   1.3     5.8     6.10     10.12 (72)  
COLLINGWOOD          5.3     5.3     10.6      14.8 (92)  

GOALS
Brisbane: Rayner 2, Neale, McCluggage, McCarthy, Lohmann, Fletcher, Daniher, Cameron, Bailey
Collingwood: Elliott 4, Mihocek 3, Hill 3, McCreery 2, McInnes, Crisp

BEST
Brisbane: Neale, Zorko, McCluggage, Andrews, McCarthy, Rayner
Collingwood: N.Daicos, Noble, Elliott, Frampton, J.Daicos, Mitchell

INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Collingwood: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane: Kai Lohmann (replaced Deven Robertson in the fourth quarter)
Collingwood: Jack Crisp (replaced Fin Macrae in the third quarter)

Crowd: 34,022 at the Gabba