Time to run it back!

It's another must win for our boys this week as we come face to face with an in form Adelaide side. 

You guessed it... it's time to get stuck into this weeks match preview. 

Last Time We Met

Last time: Adelaide 13.12 (90) drew with Brisbane 13.12 (90) Round 9, 2024

The last time we met this game had it all, our clash against the Crows saw the lead change eight times in the first half alone. Our aerial strength, led by Harris Andrews and Jack Payne, proved decisive with a 17-6 contested mark advantage. Despite Adelaide's defensive press, our quick ball movement, led by midfield duo Jarrod Berry and Hugh McCluggage, helped break the lines effectively and get on top in the middle.  

Callum Ah Chee's four goals were critical, with added contributions from Logan Morris and Kai Lohmann. Adelaide's pressure in the third quarter disrupted Brisbane, but errors allowed our boys to regain control and finish strong with three early goals in the final term.

Despite our best efforts neither side could be separated. This Sunday we get to run it back and we know our Lions have their sights set firmly on nothing other than a win at home.

Going to the game at the Gabba against Adelaide? Plan your trip →

Excited About

Bez & Charlie Re-sign!

Lions fans are buzzing with excitement as Jarrod Berry and Charlie Cameron, fresh off their re-signings with the club, prepare to step out in front of a full Gabba. Berry's dynamic midfield presence and Cameron's electrifying forward play have been pivotal for Brisbane, and their commitment to the Lions has only fuelled the anticipation as the club powers on towards September. Lions fans will be eager to see their beloved stars in action, confident that their renewed contracts will bring even more thrilling moments starting Sunday afternoon.

Match-ups we're keen for

They’ll be fierce contests everywhere across the ground Sunday afternoon. This week we’ve leant on the keen analysis of the AFL as to who could be the game shapers this week. This is what the AFL said:

Game Shapers

Will Ashcroft hit the ground running in his first match since overcoming an ACL injury late last season as he gathered 18 disposals in a stirring return. While the 20-year-old might not approach anything near his best until much later in the campaign, he has already added a touch of class that can help the Lions continue their surge through the second half to the year.

Izak Rankine looked unstoppable as he gathered 21 disposals, seven score involvements and booted 2.2 in the first half against the Giants before a lockdown role came his way. The dynamic Rankine is now a key weapon for the Crows, with his pace an asset at centre bounces before he drifts forward to be an option in attack.

Lachie Neale ran amok early, Josh Dunkley ground away all day, and Brisbane held off a late Adelaide charge to win its fifth straight game by 11 points at the Gabba on Sunday.

Neale kicked three goals from 22 disposals in the first half to lay the foundation for his team's 14.13 (97) to 13.8 (86) victory.

He wasn't the only Lions midfielder to have a major influence on the result, with Dunkley (35 disposals, seven clearances and a goal) bobbing up everywhere around the contest, running defensively and getting involved offensively.

With just one loss from its past nine games Brisbane has moved into seventh place on the ladder, just a win from third, ahead of a trip to Perth to face West Coast next Sunday.

Neale finished with game highs in disposals (36), contested possessions (18) and clearances (10) to go along with his goalkicking exploits as the Lions held off a persistent Adelaide that could never really be shook. 

Cam Rayner kicked three goals, Charlie Cameron overcame an injury scare late in the third quarter to kick two, while Darcy Wilmot was important in defence late in the match.

Brisbane kept Adelaide at arm's length for most of the day as the lead fluctuated between two and four goals, but back-to-back goals from Darcy Fogarty with four minutes remaining set up a grandstand finish.

Like they've done in recent contests at the Gabba, the Lions held on, icing the game in the dying minutes, as opposed to winning it like they did against Melbourne nine days earlier.

With Ben Keays kicking four goals, Rory Laird gathering 27 disposals and Taylor Walker and Izak Rankine looking dangerous in attack, the Crows always threatened.

Brisbane looked like blowing the game open early with the opening three goals, two coming courtesy of Rayner who played as a pseudo third tall forward. 

But with some ascendency around the stoppages, Adelaide quickly got back into the contest.

Keays kicked two of his three first-half goals in quick succession, including a brilliant checkside from the left forward pocket.

However, Neale was already running riot, with his three goals in the opening half from 22 disposals ensuring the home team had a 14-point advantage at the main break.

Crowd villain Izak Rankine, who was involved in an early incident that saw Brandon Starcevich leaving the game after failing a Head Injury Assessment, threaded a goal from the boundary line just before the half to keep the visitors in striking range.

The Lions are back in the hunt
Seven wins and a draw from their past nine matches has the Lions well and truly back in premiership contention. They may just be sitting seventh on the ladder, but trailing third-placed Fremantle by just one win, are poised to make a top-four surge. Despite Joe Daniher going goalless they still found plenty of avenues to goal, continuing the high-powered scoring that has punctuated their post-bye surge. Next up is West Coast in Perth, followed by Sydney at the Gabba and Gold Coast at People First Stadium.

Is Izak Rankine in trouble?
Izak Rankine is sure to come under scrutiny from the Match Review Officer following a first-quarter incident with Brandon Starcevich. As Rankine darted forward ahead of the play as a stoppage was being set on the wing, Starcevich chased while watching the play. In the meantime, Rankine had stopped in his tracks, just in time for the Lions defender to run straight into the Crow's braced shoulder, well off the ball. Both left the field and after Starcevich failed a Head Injury Assessment, he was replaced by substitute Logan Morris. 

A career night for Keays
Playing against your old club always means a little something more, and Ben Keays had a game to remember. In his seventh meeting with the club he played 30 matches for between 2016 and 2019, the midfielder-turn-half-forward kicked a career-high four goals to keep the Crows in the contest. He kicked two in the first term, one in the second and one in the third, cleverly finding space between Adelaide's tall forwards.

BRISBANE     4.2       8.6       12.7     14.13 (97)
ADELAIDE     2.2       6.3       9.5       13.8 (86)

GOALS
Brisbane: Neale 3, Rayner 3, Cameron 2, Morris, Lohmann, Hipwood, Dunkley, Ashcroft, Ah Chee
Adelaide: Keays 4, Walker 2, Rankine 2, Himmelberg 2, Fogarty 2, Soligo

BEST
Brisbane: Neale, Dunkley, McInerney, Wilmot, Ashcroft
Adelaide: Laird, Keane, Keays, Walker, Sholl, Rankine

INJURIES
Brisbane: Starcevich (concussion)
Adelaide: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane: Logan Morris (replaced Starcevich during the second quarter)
Adelaide: Zac Taylor (replaced Mitch Hinge at three-quarter time)

Crowd: 30,183 at the Gabba