Brisbane Lions members and supporters have every reason to feel excited as the 2010 AFL Premiership Season approaches.
While each new season brings renewed optimism for followers of every AFL club, Queensland-based Lions fans will be treated to some of the competition’s biggest matches in their very own backyard, amongst the 11 Lions home games at the Gabba…
HOME GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Round 1 v West Coast, Saturday 27 March @ 7:10pm
The Lions will face West Coast for the third straight year in the Club’s important season opener.
The Eagles have inflicted the Lions’ three biggest home losses and still hold the best record of any AFL team against the Lions since the Club formed as a merged entity in 1996.
However, the Lions have won their past two matches against the Eagles and will be buoyed by the possible unleashing of some of their five big Trade Week recruits for the first time.
One such off-season addition is Brent Staker who will be hoping to turn the tables on his former side after spending the past seven seasons with West Coast.
Round 2 v Carlton, Thursday 1 April @ 7:40pm
The Gabba’s AFL attendance record of 37,224 for the Lions v Collingwood match set in Round 15 of 2005 could well be broken when it hosts the Lions’ Easter Thursday night blockbuster against Carlton.
In what is being billed as one of the most anticipated AFL clashes in recent memory, Lions spearhead Brendan Fevola - who booted 575 goals in more than a decade with Carlton - will face his former side for the first time in front of his new home crowd.
But with the Lions’ record-breaking final quarter comeback in the 2009 Gabba Elimination Final still fresh in their minds, the Blues will be seeking revenge.
Round 4 v Western Bulldogs, Saturday 17 April @ 7:10pm
Like the Brisbane Lions, the Western Bulldogs - who finished third last season - will be looking to take that extra step towards an AFL premiership in 2010.
Both clubs have welcomed high-profile recruits during the off-season in the form of power forwards Barry Hall and Brendan Fevola who are set to go head-to-head in what promises to be a high-scoring shoot-out.
The Lions will be looking to avenge their 2009 Semi Final loss while the match could also be Bulldogs goal-sneak and former Lions Club Champion Jason Akermanis’ final visit to the Gabba.
Round 7 v Fremantle, Saturday 8 May @ 7:10pm
An improved Fremantle side featuring giant All-Australian ruckman Aaron Sandilands will be hoping to make history when they visit the Lions’ home fortress in Round 7.
Remarkably, the Dockers are yet to taste victory at the Gabba after eight attempts and the Lions will be looking to continue this hoodoo tradition.
Round 8 v Geelong, Saturday 15 May @ 7:10pm
Reigning premiers Geelong will be looking to atone for their shock 43-point loss to the Lions in 2009 when they return to the Gabba.
Meanwhile, the new-look Lions outfit will relish the opportunity to really test themselves against the best current team in the business, with the Cats winning two flags from the last three Grand Finals.
Both the Lions and Geelong were widely considered to be the best two teams of the past decade and will no doubt be vying for supremacy over the next ten years.
Round 10 v Collingwood, Saturday 29 May @ 7:10pm
The entire fanatical Collingwood Army will invade Brisbane in Round 10 when the Lions battle their traditional rivals at the Gabba.
A huge crowd is again guaranteed to witness these two emerging teams do battle.
The Lions famously defeated Collingwood in the 2002 and 2003 Grand Finals, while the Magpies have held the edge in recent clashes between these two sides.
But history will count for nothing when they renew hostilities this one time only in the regular season.
Round 13 v Richmond, Saturday 19 June @ 7:10pm
Richmond will make their first trip to the Gabba since Round 4 of 2006 with the aid of former Lions champion Justin Leppitsch who will sit in their corner as an Assistant Coach.
However, the Lions will also be well educated on the Tigers courtesy of Assistant Coach Jade Rawlings and Development Coach (and former Lions great) Craig ‘Fly’ McRae who joined the Club from Richmond during the off-season.
Former Richmond defender Andrew Raines will also be looking to impress on the field against his old side when he lines up for the Lions who grabbed the former 2006 AFL Rising Star runner-up during Trade Week.
Round 15 v St Kilda, Saturday 10 July @ 7:10pm
The Lions and St Kilda have a history of monumental clashes at the Gabba - and this match promises to be no exception.
After narrowly going down in a thrilling encounter against the Saints at Etihad Stadium in 2009, the Lions will host last year’s Grand Finalists at the Gabba.
Mature Lions recruits in key defender Matt Maguire and wingman Xavier Clarke will also have a point to prove in what could be their first encounter against their former club led by inspirational Queenslander Nick Riewoldt.
Round 18 v Melbourne, Saturday 31 July @ 7:10pm
While Melbourne have finished at the wrong end of the AFL ladder for the past few seasons, they have been able to develop a wealth of young talent in the process.
In fact, the Demons boast one of the most exciting crops of young talent in the AFL including first round draft selections Jack Watts and Tom Scully.
But the Lions’ own brigade of rising stars led by the likes of Daniel Rich, James Polkinghorne and Jack Redden will be out to prove that it isn’t only the Demons’ future which shines brightly.
Round 20 v Adelaide, Sunday 15 August @ 1:10pm
Adelaide and the Lions finished 5th and 6th respectively in 2009 and were two of the best non-Victorian teams in the AFL last year.
With both clubs expecting to improve in 2010, can the Lions overcome another of their close rivals?
The boys in maroon, blue and gold were victors in their sole encounter during 2009 at the Gabba in Round 8 by 36 points.
Round 22 v Sydney, Date & Time TBC - AFL Floating Round
The date and time of the AFL’s first ever ‘floating round’ won’t be determined until later in the season, but the Round 22 match is almost certain to shape both team’s Finals aspirations.
Gun Swans recruit and Gabba crowd favourite Daniel Bradshaw will return to very familiar surrounds to line up against his former team-mates for the first time since joining Sydney via the 2009 Pre-Season Draft.
Former Swans premiership player Amon Buchanan could also be lining up against his former side in front of his new home crowd.
With so much footy action in store, we sincerely hope you will join us for Season 2010 with our ‘new look’ premiership campaign, now built on some highly matured Lions firepower…
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