The Lions Reserves will be raring to record their first win of the season when they take on the Gold Coast Suns Reserves under the lights of the Gabba for Indigenous Round.

The young side will be looking to bounce back in front of an AFL curtain-closer crowd, after a difficult trip to Sydney last week where they fell short to the WSU Giants.

The Suns Reserves will travel up the M1 with a 2-5 record and just four AFL-listed players in their side.

The Lions are without Josh McGuinness who collected 23 touches and seven tackles last week, but the team will be boosted by the return of Claye Beams, Billy Evans and Jarrad Jansen, extending the side to 13 AFL-listed players.

WHERE AND WHEN

The Gabba, Saturday, May 28, 5:45pm.

The Lions Reserves will play after the Senior game between the Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn. Make sure you stick around.

JANSEN TO BE DANCIN’

He was elevated to the captaincy role for the Reserves, but Jarrad Jansen’s consistent midfield form landed him a spot as an emergency in Leppa’s senior side last week and subsequently had to sit out against UWS Giants. Recruited from Geelong, the youngster definitely has the weight on his shoulders; quite literally as he wears Browny’s beloved number 16. Another stellar week in the Reserves where he averages 17 touches and 6 tackles a game, he will be knocking on that door for an AFL debut.

KICKING CURSE BE GONE

The last time the Lions faced the Suns, they scored a 3-12 goal to behind ratio, something they will look to amend when they kick to the big sticks at the Gabba on Saturday. In the last two rounds, the Lions have kicked 27 goals and only 12 behinds, a very impressive turn around. An accurate night in front of the goals will go a long way in the Lions registering their first win of the season.  

BABY FACED SUNS

The injury annihilated Gold Coast Suns Reserves will be fielding a season low of four AFL-listed players, with two being named as senior emergencies. The Suns have brought in several U18 Queensland representatives, who return from a victorious national campaign. Selected Allies representative, Nick Kempe and 16-year-old NEAFL Rising Star nominee, Brayden Crossley are just some of the younger Suns set to take the field.

IT’S A BIG WEEK FOR…

Josh Green. The 2015 Lions leading goal-kicker will come off a convincing performance against UWS Giants last week, where he racked up 24 disposals, three tackles and one goal. The small forward is expected to play a different role in the Reserves side, after being named in the midfield for the second week in a row. If Green can find some consistent form, where he collects contested possessions and sneaks forward for a few goals, there is no doubt his little legs will go running back into Leppa’s senior team.

FORM

Brisbane (10th): LLL
Suns (8^th): LLL

LAST TIME THEY MET

Rd 3, 2016: Gold Coast Suns 21.12 (138) def. Brisbane Lions 3.12 (30) @ Leyshon Park, Yeronga

TEAM

AFL LISTED PLAYER CHANGES

IN: Claye Beams, Billy Evans, Jarrad Jansen
OUT: Josh McGuinness  

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