NEAFL ROUND 2
Brisbane Lions v GWS Giants
Saturday, 13 April from 11am
Moreton Bay Sports Complex, Burpengary

Click here to live-stream on NEAFL Youtube Channel on Saturday and stay tuned on the Lions NEAFL Twitter account for score updates.

The first match of Round 2 will see Brisbane Lions youngster Jack Payne make his return to NEAFL.

After being drafted to the Lions in 2017 at Pick No. 54, the key defender was ruled out of the 2018 season due to a persistent shin complaint.

"It's exciting for Jack, he's had a long road in his rehabilitation and coming back," NEAFL Coach Mitch Hahn said.

"We're excited to get him back into the team."

Irishman James Madden will also play his first NEAFL match of the season also, after missing Round 1 due to illness.

The Lions are going to be full of confidence heading into the match after their biggest ever win over the NT Thunder.

Meanwhile, the Giants are coming off the back of a 29–point defeat at home at the hands of James Rose and the Sydney Swans. 

This match-up is likely set to feature plenty of AFL-listed players from both teams with eyes on gaining a place in their respective AFL teams.

The Giants will be wanting to prove that they are going to be a force within the competition after their list has been depleted through injury over the last two seasons.

NEAFL TEAM

RECENT ENCOUNTERS

Round 21, 2018: Brisbane Lions 19.11 (125) Defeated Giants 3.6 (24) at Blacktown
Round 16, 2018: Brisbane Lions 14.15 (99) Drew Giants 14.15 (99) at Gabba
Round 12, 2018: Giants 22.14 (146) Defeated Brisbane Lions 18.3 (111) at Gabba

TALKING POINTS

1. The Brisbane Lions will be beaming full of confidence after the AFL sides dream like start for the first three rounds as well as their biggest winning margin over the NT Thunder last week. The Lions will be looking to make an even stronger statement with a win over the GIANTS side, and sending a message to the competition they mean business in 2019.

2. The Giants will be wanting to come back from their 29-point defeat last week and a win against the rampaging Lions could be the kick-start to their season they need. If not an 0-2 start will be hard to come back from in another close competition this year.

3. A battle between two young emerging big forwards could be on the cards for Saturday as the Lions’ Tom Cutler managed to kick four majors as the Giants’ Zach Sproule kicked three of his own. Could we see a big bag of goals from both leading forward targets?

ROOKIE WATCH
A player to watch in this AFL Club match-up is the Lions' second recruit in last years’ AFL Draft, Thomas Berry. After having an interrupted season last year, Berry will be looking to his display his defensive pressure and attack on the ball. Racking up 22 disposals in his first official game for the Lions last Saturday night, Berry will be looking to build upon that performance this week against the GIANTS.

STATS THAT MATTER
Contested possessions are going to be a vital advantage that will go a long way to seeing a result this Saturday between the two sides. The GIANTS will be working on this during the week after being down 18 against the Swans while Brisbane had a massive +60 in this stat over the Thunder on their way to a massive victory.