For the second season in a row, the Brisbane Lions' NEAFL side will start their season with a gruelling trip to Darwin to take on the NT Thunder on April 7. 

The draw for the 2019 NEAFL fixture was released today, with the Lions set to play three curtain raisers at the Gabba, while also taking on Aspley in a huge grudge match on Easter Friday. 

Similar to this year, the Lions will play each AFL affiliated side four times while playing each of the non-affiliated sides once. 

NEAFL Operations Manager, Luke Gatti, said the fixture aims to build a successful 2018 season, which was the most competitive on record.

“Our goal for the 2019 NEAFL fixture was to enable our clubs to engage with their communities and supporters by adding extra Sunday games, and additional matches on Good Friday, Friday night and in Alice Springs,” he said.

“We are pleased our traditional clashes in ANZAC Round between Redland and NT Thunder, and Friday night between Sydney Swans and Sydney University, were able to be maintained.

“We are confident the 2019 fixture will allow for another competitive and exciting season for football in the northern states.”

Round 1 will commence on April 6, coinciding with Round 3 of the AFL Premiership Season, with the Grand Final to be held on September 14 or 15, during Week 2 of the AFL Finals.

All clubs will have three byes, with the NEAFL to retain a three-week finals series featuring the top six teams.

Download a combined Lions AFL and NEAFL draw in PDF.

See the full draw below: 

RoundDateOpponentVenueHome/AwayLocal Time
1Saturday, April 6NT ThunderTIO StadiumAway6.30pm
2Saturday, April 13GWSBurpengaryHome12.00pm
3Friday, April 19AspleyVoxson OvalAway1.30pm
4Saturday, April 27Gold CoastMetricon StadiumAway10.05am
5Saturday, May 4Sydney  South Pine SC Home12.00pm 
6
Saturday, May 11CanberraPhillip OvalAway12.00pm
7BYE
8Saturday, May 25GWSMaroochydoreHome12.00pm
9Saturday, June 1SydneySouth Pine SCHome12.00pm
10Saturday, June 8Gold CoastMetricon StadiumAway12.55pm
11BYE    
12Saturday, June 22Sydney UniBISPAway12.00pm
13Sunday, June 30RedlandThe GabbaHome11:40am
14Sunday, July 7GWSSydney ShowgroundAway1.00pm
15BYE
16Saturday, July 20Gold CoastThe GabbaHome3.45pm
17Sunday, July 28SydneySCGAway11.40am
18Saturday, Aug 3SouthportFankhauser ReserveAway1.30pm
19Saturday, Aug 10Gold Coast The Gabba  Home12.55pm 
20Sunday, Aug 18GWSSydney ShowgroundAway11.40am
21Saturday, Aug 24SydneySCG (TBC)AwayTBC