Round 15, Saturday, July 8, 2017
Aspley Hornets (6th) v Brisbane Lions (2nd) at Graham Rd, 1:30pm
This match will be streamed live on NEAFL TV 

SUMMARY

A lot will be at stake when cross-town rivals Aspley Hornets and Brisbane Lions cross swords at Graham Rd. Aspley fell victim to the Gold Coast’s biggest NEAFL win since Round 21 of 2013 in copping a savage 127-point caning last Saturday, a humiliation John Blair’s men will want to put behind them when they host the Lions. Aspley heads into its match with Brisbane with a similar goal to that of all other mid-table side’s set to face AFL-quality line-ups: keep an eye on percentage. The sixth-placed Hornets will aim to be as competitive as possible for as long as possible in a quest to bolster their top-six hopes.

While Aspley is limping off the back of a brutal battering, Brisbane will have an eye on inflicting carnage again. Mitch Hahn’s men put premiership fancies Sydney University to the sword in a 65-point win on the weekend, and in so doing moved into outright second on the ladder on 40 points. The second-placed Lions are riding a six-game winning streak in which they have won by an average margin of 70 points per game. They will be out to pocket another percentage-boosting win in a sustained quest to remain in the top two for the remainder of the season.

RECENT ENCOUNTERS

Round 9, 2017: Brisbane Lions 23.14 (152) d Aspley Hornets 9.6 (60) at Graham Rd
Round 18, 2016: Aspley Hornets 16.15 (111) d Brisbane Lions 11.8 (74) at the Gabba
Round 4, 2016: Aspley Hornets 11.7 (73) d Brisbane Lions 9.16 (70) at Graham Rd

TALKING POINTS

1. This preview would not be complete without a mention of 20-year-old Brisbane midfielder Ben Keays. The 2015 draftee has provided the driving force behind the Lions’ full-throttle charge to six wins on the trot in winning a glut of ball and proving a dead-eye on goal. From the last three games, he has averaged 31 disposals and two goals per game, a stunning run of form culminating in a 34-disposal, four-goal performance against the Students last week, which earned the Morningside product 10 NEAFL MVP votes. Expect Keays to have another telling impact tomorrow.

2. The Hornets have reached the point in their 2017 campaign where their resolve is being tested. Last week they came face-to-face with a Gold Coast side streaked with 17 AFL-listed players, tomorrow they will meet a Brisbane outfit that has named 18 of its own, and the following week they will travel to the Top End to battle a NT Thunder side currently perched in fourth on the ladder. It will be intriguing to see how Aspley holds itself tomorrow as it continues to run the gauntlet through this testing mid-season period.

3. In a reminder for the optimistic, the last time Brisbane suffered defeat was in Round 7 to a hapless Redland outfit. A third-placed Brisbane took to Redland’s home turf after having won four of its five games to start the year. Trembling in its boots was a winless Bombers outfit floundering in tenth on the ladder, but it was the boys in red and black who would spring an upset for the ages. They led at every change en route to snaffling a 13-point victory over a side stamped with 17 AFL-listed players.

ROOKIE WATCH

Keep an eye on 18-year-old utility Campbell Walker. The Under-19 Academy Squad member will don Brisbane colours for the first time since Round 9, although he has turned out for Redland on eight occasions this season. He collected eight disposals, produced four clearances and kicked a goal when he last ran out for the Lions. Now that he has been presented with another opportunity to play for an AFL-quality side, the Morningside product will want to take the opportunity with both hands.

STATS THAT MATTER

After 14 rounds of competition, Brisbane (106.2) ranks first for uncontested marks per game, whereas Aspley (70.8) sits in last. This is an indication of just how good the Lions are at leading into space. When not in possession, Aspley will need to do everything in its power to stand firm man-on-man or cover well in zoning defences.

TEAM

IN: Jake Barrett, Campbell Walker, Luke O’Sullivan, Ben Sloan, Jack Payne

OUT: Matt Eagles (suspended), Cedric Cox (away), Matthew Hammelmann (AFL), Clay Beams (injured)