2013 AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON: ROUND 8
Brisbane Lions v Essendon
Saturday 18 May
Etihad @ 1.45pm (local time)

2013 NEAFL SEASON: ROUND 9
Brisbane Lions Reserves v GWS Giants
Saturday 18 May
BISP @ 12.00pm (local time)

BROADCAST DETAILS
Brisbane
LIVE on Fox Footy at 1:30pm
LIVE on 7mate at 1:30pm
Melbourne
LIVE on Fox Footy at 1:30pm
Adelaide
LIVE on Fox Footy at 1pm
Perth
LIVE on Fox Footy at 11:30am
Sydney
LIVE on Fox Footy at 1:30pm

TRAINING TIMES
Friday 17 May
Wesley College, St. Kilda @ 4.00pm (local time)

3-PEAT HERO GUERNSEY
The Brisbane Lions will wear a commemorative 3-Peat ‘Hero’ guernsey for this Saturday’s match against Essendon to further celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Club’s historic hat-trick of Premierships.

The much celebrated guernsey will also be worn against fellow Grand Final foes Collingwood in Round 10 at the Gabba.

The names of every player who played a senior match between 2001 and 2003 – and that of Senior Coach Leigh Matthews – are watermarked into the garment to recognise their contribution towards this remarkable period of success.

Fans can pre-order their limited edition guernsey online at lionsshop.com.au, or by visiting the Lions Shop marquee (located on the Bourke Street footbridge at Etihad Stadium) before Saturday’s game.

AFTERMATCH FUNCTION
All Lions fans are encouraged to stay back after Saturday’s match against Essendon to hear from some of the players and coaches at the Club’s official aftermatch function held in the Victory Room inside Etihad Stadium (Level 1, Aisle 14-16).

Lions fans receive free entry into this event, which is scheduled to start shortly after the final siren.

FULLY TICKETED MATCH
The AFL has declared this Saturday’s match against Essendon at Etihad Stadium as fully ticketed, which means that every patron MUST have a reserved seat to enter the stadium.

As all Victorian Lions memberships are General Admission, all members must upgrade to a reserved seat for this match by paying ONLY the reserved seat component of the ticket. Upgrades can be done via Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com.au or call 1300 136 122.

LIONS ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
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LIONS V ESSENDON HEAD TO HEAD
The Lions have won 11 and drawn one of their 23 matches against Essendon for a winning percentage of 47%.

Biggest win: 66 points @ Etihad Stadium in Round 12 2004
Biggest loss: 67 points @ Etihad Stadium in Round 6 2013
Most goals (for): Jonathan Brown (8) @ Etihad Stadium in Round 6 of 2005
Most goals (against): Scott Lucas (7) @ Etihad Stadium in Round 17 2006

RECENT HISTORY
2008: Round 16 - 18.10 (118) to 24.11 (155) @ Etihad Stadium (N) - Lost by 37
2009: Round 6 - 17.9 (111) to 9.14 (68) @ The Gabba (N) - Won by 43
2009: Round 19 - 12.15 (87) to 13.9 (87) @ The MCG (N) – Draw
2010: Round 21 - 14.11 (95) to 10.8 (68) @ Etihad Stadium - Won by 27
2011: Round 8 – 9.12 (66) to 15.12 (102) @ The Gabba – Lost by 36
2012: Round 6 – 9.8 (62) to 19.15 (129) @ Etihad Stadium – Lost by 67

LAST TIME THEY MET
Brent Stanton and Jobe Watson were the engine room behind Essendon’s 67-point win over the Brisbane Lions in Round 6, 2012.

After just 17 minutes of play the Bombers led the Lions by 31 points and continued to dominate the game before the Lions hit back with 4 late first quarter goals. The late surge by the Lions brought the margin back to 26 points at the first break.

The game continued much the same in the second quarter, with the Bombers continuing to dominate the play. Luckily for the Lions the Bombers were unable to make the most of their 20 inside 50s and the Lions trailed by just 32 at the main break.

Despite the best efforts of Daniel Rich, Ash McGrath, Jack Redden and Pearce Hanley, who worked hard all day, the Lions were unable to control a dominant Essendon line up.

Brownlow Medal Votes: 3. J Watson (ESS), 2. B Stanton (ESS), 1. D Heppell (ESS).

FAST FOOTY FACTS

Lions Statistical Leaders (AFL Top Ten)
Disposals: 8th Tom Rockliff (avg. 27)
Handballs: 4th Tom Rockliff (avg. 14), 7th Brent Moloney (13)
Tackles: 2nd Jack Redden (7)
Rebounds: 2nd Jed Adcock (5)
One percenters: = 1st Daniel Merrett (8), 4th Joel Patfull (7)

Senior Coaches Michael Voss (Lions) and James Hird (Essendon) were the joint winners of the 1996 Brownlow Medal, and went head-to-head in the 2001 AFL Grand Final as Captains of the teams that they now coach.

Assistant Coaches Gary O’Donnell and Mark Harvey both have a long history with the Essendon Football Club. O’Donnell played 243 games in the red and black from 1987-1998, and was an Assistant Coach from 2005-2010, while Harvey played 206 games and spent eight seasons as an Assistant Coach from 1998-2005.

CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Vote for the players you thought were the Lions' best in the team's Round 7 loss to West Coast.

Cast your votes HERE