FORM GUIDE
The Brisbane Lions took on the Sydney Swans last Saturday night at the Gabba after registering their first win for the season a week earlier. Taking winning form, and the confidence that comes with it, into the clash with the Swans was important for the Lions after a tough start to the year.

Sydney were always going to pose a stern test for the Lions and the night went to script for the Swans.

The Swans have had an up and down season to date and had yet to show their best football or even have the opportunity to put all their stars on the field together. With a re-jigged forward line of Adam Goodes and Sam Reid the Swans midfield got to work and led the team to a thumping 79-point win over the Lions.

The Lions forward line troubles and lack of scoring power has been an issue so far this season and they were not able to keep pace with the stronger Swans outfit. Lions young gun Sam Mayes spoke earlier this week of the speed and intensity that Sydney players showed throughout the game and he acknowledged that the Lions are aspiring to reach that level of performance.

The Lions now hold a 1-6 record leading into Saturday afternoon’s game at the Gabba against Essendon.

Essendon started the year impressively, playing some magnificent football during the first three rounds. The Bombers then hit form and injury issues and laboured through a three game losing streak leading up to their clash with the Western Bulldogs last Saturday night at Etihad Stadium. The Bulldogs provided a tough and physical contest but ultimately Essendon hung on for a tight eight-point victory.

Essendon head into the clash against the Lions with a 3-4 record and are desperate to even up their ledger and rejoin the top eight as soon as possible. 

TEAM SELECTION
The Lions Match Committee have swung the selection axe this week with James Polkinghorne, Mitch Golby and Rohan Bewick all omitted.

Luke McGuane has succumbed to a knee injury and will also miss the game.

They welcome back some much-needed experience with Jonathan Brown and Pearce Hanley, while Matt Maguire also returns for his first game of 2014.

Young forward Jackson Paine has also been recalled to partner Brown in the Lions forward line.

Essendon have omitted Jason Ashby and rested Ben Howlett while Jason Winderlich will miss with a knee injury.

Coming into the Bombers squad is Patrick Ambrose, Martin Gleeson and former GWS player Kurt Aylett for his first appearance in the Bombers colours.

HONOURING THE BEARS
The Lions will be wearing a Bears-inspired guernsey this Saturday night to commemorate the Club’s upcoming Hall of Fame event on Wednesday 21 May.

It will be the Club’s second Hall of Fame induction, and the first to be held in Brisbane.

The commemorative jumper is based on the one worn by the Bears from 1989-1991 – the period when the Club first started playing home games at the Gabba.

The retro-style guernsey was voted as the most popular of three potential designs by Lions fans earlier this year. 

KEY MATCH-UPS
Looking at the Lions’ defensive set-up, there are some intriguing contests which will go a long way to determine the winner of this clash.

Lions Captain Jed Adcock has been named to start on Paul Chapman, who has been a good contributor this year so far for the Bombers. Chapman is capable of kicking multiple goals and provides a hard edge to the Bombers forward line. We have seen Adcock lay his body on the line every round so far this season and Saturday evening will be no different for the Lions skipper.

Two young players in Justin Clarke and Joe Daniher are likely to go head-to-head deep in the forward line in what looms as a vital contest. Daniher has shown a great ability to bring down big marks but has yet to capitalise this aerial dominance with hitting the scoreboard. Clarke should expect some third man assistance from his fellow defenders, in particular Joel Patfull.

Looking into the midfield it looks as though Daniel Merrett is becoming Mr. Versatile and will be providing Trent West with assistance in the ruck to face Paddy Ryder. We can expect Daniher to probably pinch hit at times and provide relief to Ryder as he works his way into the season.

The midfield sees a number of match ups that may turn into four quarter run-with-roles starting with Nick Robertson lining up on Brent Stanton, Heath Hocking will most likely go to Tom Rockliff, and Tom Cutler most likely going to David Zaharakis.

There are plenty of heavy possession winners on display in the middle and not all can be shut down so the rotations of who is running with who should make for interesting watching. Jobe Watson, Brendan Goddard, Jack Redden and Lions youngster James Aish all have the capacity to win plenty of the footy and deliver clean possession to their forwards.

Jonathan Brown returns to the Lions forward line to bolster the attack and will be assisted by Jackson Paine and a combination of big men Daniel Merrett and Trent West. Evergreen Dustin Fletcher will take the tallest option, either West or Merrett, and Cale Hooker will more than likely find himself opposed to Brown for most of the evening.

Josh Green arguably has one of the more important jobs on the night with his looming battle with Dyson Heppell. Green will need to ensure that he places as much pressure as possible on Heppell’s possessions as possible and hit the scoreboard with accuracy whenever he can. Heppell provides plenty of drive from the halfback line and has the ability to rack up possessions as he drifts forward.

Matt Maguire makes his return to the senior side and could yet find himself playing either forward or back depending on what Senior Justin Leppitsch sees as the most effective strategy on the night.

Maguire is a defender by trade, but has spend time in attack in the NEAFL so far this season.

RECENT HISTORY
There is a really interesting recent rivalry between the two clubs with the past five clashes finishing two wins apiece and a draw.

The Lions won against all the odds last year in Round Eight at Etihad Stadium, with Brent Staker providing the highlight of the afternoon sealing the 10-point win with a amazing goal from the boundary line.

In Round Six of 2012 the Bombers delivered a thumping 67-point win down at Etihad Stadium. On that occasion Brent Stanton with 39 disposals, Jobe Watson with 36 and Dyson Heppell with 34 were the standouts.

In Round Eight of 2011 the Bombers had a good win at the Gabba registering a 36-point victory.  Tom Rockliff was the stand out Lions performer with 30 disposals but Essendon’s David Zaharakis with 25 disposals and 4 goals was a key contributor to the Bombers.

In Round 21 of 2010 Jonathan Brown – in his 200th game – was the main man with 25 disposals, 16 marks and finished with 4 goals to lead the Lions to 27-point victory at Etihad Stadium.

In Round 19 of 2009, the most recent year that the Lions played finals, saw the two teams play out a thrilling draw finishing level on 87 points. The Lions rued inaccuracy on the night having a total of 27 shots on goal to 22 at the MCG.

As you can see a very mixed bag of results comprising some close contests with some familiar names amongst the best performers across the past five years.

One further thing to keep in mind is that Essendon have only beaten the Lions once at the Gabba since 2000.

Anything could happen at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon going on the recent head-to-head record between the Lions and the Bombers.

LIONS RESERVES
The Lions reserves had last weekend off to recuperate and recover after a tough clash in Mackay on ANZAC Day against the Swans reserves.

This week they face the Southport Sharks who made the trip to Darwin to face the table topping NT Thunder. Ultimately the Thunder ran out winners by three goals and still lead all comers in the NEAFL this year remaining undefeated after six completed rounds.

The clash will take place at 11am at H&A Oval in Broadbeach and not the Sharks usual home ground of Fankhauser Reserve in Southport.

The Lions reserves are currently sitting 9th on the ladder with a 2-3 record while the Sharks are currently 4th with a 4-2 record.

It promises to be an entertaining clash on the Gold Coast that local Lions should get down to if they have the opportunity.


Carl Nimb is an independent writer and Lions Member (#2604559) who will contribute to lions.com.au throughout the season.

You can follow him on Twitter @CarlNimb