It’s set to the game of the round as Brisbane head south to take on the Sydney Swans at the SCG on Sunday afternoon.
With both sides sitting at 5-1 after the opening six rounds, it looms as a major test for the two teams who will be keen to make a statement early in the season.
#1 | The Battle of the Big Boys
All eyes will be on two in-form left footers in Joe Daniher and Lance Franklin on Sunday afternoon.
Franklin wrote his name into the history books in Round 2, kicking his 1000th career goal as he proves that age is just a number.
Up the other end, Joe Daniher is quietly in career-best form at the Lions and is tied second in the Coleman Medal race after six rounds.
The 28-year-old is kicking for goal at a career-high 65.5% accuracy, while also sitting in the ‘above average’ category for goals, disposals and kicks according to Champion Data.
Spectators will be hoping for a goal-kicking bonanza as the two raking left footers will look to assert their dominance on the scoreboard.
#2 | The SCG Hoodoo
Spoken in the media all week has been the ‘SCG’ hoodoo the Lions are yet to break in their neighbouring state.
Last time Brisbane beat Sydney on their home deck, Michael Voss was their newly appointed Head Coach and the Lions narrowly snuck home with an eight-point victory in a hostile environment.
Brisbane would then go on to play finals, defeating Carlton in an elimination final before going down to the Western Bulldogs the following week.
However, Chris Fagan says his men are comfortable enough to play at the SCG and that it’s very similar to that of the Gabba.
"It's got a cricket pitch in the middle, it's probably the ground most similar to our own," he said.
"We feel comfortable enough to play there.
"It's hard to win away from home.
"You always want to beat teams around you on the ladder, that's for sure, but who knows who the best teams are this year."
#3 | Clash of the Titans
While ladder position alone highlights the significance of Sundays clash, the stats dictate a far more intriguing battle.
According to Champion Data, Sydney rank #2 in the competition for average goals per game, second only to the Brisbane Lions, who average 16 goals a game and are the most lethal scoring side in the competition currently.
Sydney will be looking to lower the eyes and minimise the impact of Brisbane’s highflyers, with the Lions sitting second in the competition for marks compared to the Swans, who come in at ninth.
However, across the board, the two teams are as evenly matched as possible, with both boasting impressive and almost identical clearance, tackling and inside 50 numbers.
While it’s a cliché, Sunday clash really will go down to the wire.
