The Brisbane Lions will be hoping that an eventful week at the Gabba won't cause a distraction as they aim to secure their ninth win of the 2013 AFL season against the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

Lions.com.au will bring you regular updates from the Gabba this evening, so stay tuned for detailed match information as it happens.

NEAFL RESULT

The Brisbane Lions Reserves have delivered the Club it's first victory of the day, with a hard-fought 11-point NEAFL win over the UWS Giants at Yeronga this afternoon.

Jordan Lisle and Jack Crisp each booted three goals for the Lions, who secured top spot on the ladder with the NEAFL Finals set to kick-off next weekend.

Check out the full list of goal-kickers and best players from today's NEAFL clash

FINAL TEAM SUBMISSION

The Lions head into the match with an unchanged line-up.

Ryan Lester will be the team's starting substitute.

INTERESTING STATS

Tom Rockliff has collected 30 or more disposals in three of his last four matches - including a season-high 39 touches against St Kilda in his last match at the Gabba.

Mark Harvey played under Kevin Sheedy throughout his entire 14-year playing career at Essendon, and spent a further eight seasons working alongside Sheedy as an assistant coach at the Bombers. Coincidentally, Harvey's first match at the helm of the Lions will be against his former mentor, who will be coaching Greater Western Sydney. 

FIRST QUARTER

Brisbane Lions   5.5 (35)   
GWS Giants       1.1 (7)

The Lions win just their fourth first quarter for the season after booting five goals to one in a dominant opening term.

There are immediate concerns over ruckman Matthew Leuenberger who looks to hurt his ankle in the opening minute of the match. Fortunately Leuenberger gets back to his feet, albeit with a noticeable limp.  

Reigning Club Champion Joel Patfull has been given the task of lining up on GWS gun Jeremy Cameron who is making a late push for the AFL Coleman Medal.

But it's another promising young Giant, Stephen Coniglio, who opens up the scoring with a clever snap. 

Plenty of errors from both teams in the opening 10 minutes with the Lions managing three behinds to the Giants' one straight kick.

Daniel Rich slots a rare goal from inside 50 metres with his first kick of the evening to give the Lions a three point advantage.

Sam Mayes, who is fresh from a three-goal effort against the Tigers last Saturday, makes it two in a row for the Lions with a classy finish.

Rich sets up a Lions goal this time, delivering the ball to Dayne Zorko who marks and kicks truly from a tough angle.

Daniel Merrett had a day out last time he played the Lions with personal best seven goals. The big defender-cum-forward has looked dangerous throughout the first quarter, and finally clunks a mark just outside the goal square, which sets him up for his first for the evening.

Mayes extends the Lions' lead to 28 points in the dying minutes of the opening term. The teenager is the only multiple goal-scorer so far. 

The quarter time siren sounds with the Lions taking a rare lead into the first break.

Simon Black, after a six-week lay-off, leads all possession winners with 10 at the first break. Ryan Harwood also has 10.




SECOND QUARTER

Brisbane Lions   5.5     12.7 (79)
GWS Giants       1.1     3.2 (20)

The Lions piled on a further seven goals in the second term to effectively put the result beyond doubt by half time. Sam Mayes continued to do most of the damage up forward, heading into the main break with a personal-best four goals.

The rain that threatened for most of the first quarter is coming down much stronger now, but it doesn't seem to affect the Lions, who kick the opening goal of the term within 30 seconds courtesy of Zorko. He now has two!

Jeremy Cameron breaks the Giants' near 30-minute goal drought with a goal from a set shot. He now has 59 for the season, one shy of Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead and West Coast's Josh Kennedy. 

Pearce Hanley capitalises on a GWS error and boots the ball into the top tier of the Gabba for his first goal of the night.

Brent Staker find housemate Josh Green inside 50m, setting up the Lions' eighth goal. Green is the team's sixth individual goal-scorer, and the lead is suddenly out to 41 points.

Greeny slots his second in as many minutes following some trademark Simon Black class. Lions 9.7 (61) to the Giants 2.1 (13).

The Lions are also on track to break their free-kick curse. They currently lead the free kick count 11-6. 

A Giles bomb gets the Giants their third goal, but the visitors' celebration is short-lived as Sam Mayes chimes in with his third for the half.

Staker gets into the action with his first for the night.

Mayes closes out an exception first half with his fourth goal - arguably his finest so far. Mayes has now booted 4.2 - a career-best in just a half of footy!




THIRD QUARTER

Brisbane Lions   5.5     12.7   16.12 (108)
GWS Giants       1.1     3.2      4.4 (28)

The Lions start the second half like they finished the first - with an onslaught of goals. 

Staker kicks things off with his second, before Simon Black joins the party with a controversial six-pointer which clearly seemed to hit the post. Regardless, the Lions are now up by 72 points and look headed for a comprehensive victory.

Tom Scully boots the Giants' fourth against the run of play, but it doesn't halt the Lions' momentum as Rich boots his second - this time from outside 50m - after receiving a free kick for being tackled 'too high'.

Simon Black is up to 18 possessions - a match high - with Ryan Harwood not far behind with 17. The 'Rolls Royce' seems to be enjoying playing back in front of his home crowd at the Gabba.

The scoring has slowed down somewhat, with the Lions leading 74 points late in the third. The margin could have been higher had Daniel Merrett not slammed the ball into the post from point blank range. Big 'Rog' has been busy up forward, but has so far added 1.3 - a far cry from his seven-goal haul last time these two sides met.

Ryan Lester gets his first run after being substituted on. Pearce Hanley is handed the red vest and proceeds to apply some ice to his groin.

An opportunistic Ash McGrath becomes the latest Lions goal-kicker with what can only be described as an 'ugly' kick.




FOURTH QUARTER

Brisbane Lions     5.5    12.7    16.12     18.15 (123)
GWS Giants         1.1    3.2      4.4         9.9 (63)

Greater Western Sydney come out stronger in the final term, but fail to convert on the scoreboard. They score 2.4 to the Lions' two behinds in the opening 10 minutes of the quarter.

Another goal to the Giants cuts the margin back to an even 60. The Lions have generally started slowly and come home strong - this match seems to be the opposite.

Black and Harwood still leading the way possession-wise with 28 and 27 respectively. Sam Docherty is also up to 24 touches - a career-best with 10 minutes still remaining,

Speak of the devil, Docherty pumps the ball inside 50 and finds Staker who slots his third goal. Stakes has kicked three a number of times this season, but has never kicked four goals for the Lions...

The Giants continue to prove the better team in the final term, outscoring the Lions by 20 points to bring the final margin back to an even 60 points.




LIONS GOALS: Mayes 4, Green 3, Staker 3, Merrett 2, Rich 2, Zorko 2, Hanley 1, McGrath 1.

LIONS LEADING POSSESSIONS: Black 28, Docherty 27, Harwood 27, Rockliff 25, Yeo 24.