The Easter Thursday fixture is one of the highest viewed matches each AFL season as it coincides with a highly sought after primetime national broadcast slot, and the Lions have been fortunate to have some ownership of this match in recent seasons.
In fact, this Thursday’s match against St Kilda will mark the sixth time in nine years that the Lions have hosted the first match of the AFL’s annual ‘Easter’ Round at the Gabba.
Remarkably, the Lions remain undefeated in their five previous Easter Thursday encounters at the Gabba, two of which have been against the Saints.
The first time the Lions took to the grand Easter Thursday stage was back in Round 4 of 2003 when a stunning debut match from Jared Brennan and dominant midfield displays from Nigel Lappin and Michael Voss helped the team overcome Collingwood by 14 points in a replay of the previous year’s AFL Grand Final.
The Lions faced Collingwood again on Easter Thursday night in Round 3 of 2004 - in another Grand Final replay - and reigned supreme by 60 points on the back of a seven-goal haul from full-forward Alastair Lynch.
St Kilda replaced Collingwood as the Lions’ regular Easter Thursday opponent in 2005 and the two clubs went on to face off in three consecutive Easter blockbusters.
Their first Easter Thursday clash in Round 1 of 2005 at the Gabba resulted in a 23-point win to the Lions with Voss collecting 28 disposals and Brennan booting a game-high four goals.
The 2006 clash against the Saints was unique in that it remains the only time the Lions have travelled interstate to play on Easter Thursday night. It is also the only time the Lions have tasted defeat on Easter Thursday after St Kilda ran out comfortable 37-point winners at Etihad Stadium.
But a return back to the Gabba for Easter Thursday in Round 2 of 2007 saw the Lions prevail by 52 points thanks to five goals from newly appointed Co-Captain Jonathan Brown.
The Lions weren’t scheduled to play Easter Thursday night matches in either 2008 or 2009, however an agreement was reached between the Queensland Government and the AFL late in 2009 to re-introduce Easter Thursday night matches at the Gabba for a period of five years.
The first of the newly agreed Easter Thursday night matches at the Gabba occurred last year when Carlton headed to Brisbane in Round 2 to tackle the Lions. Brown again proved the difference with seven goals to help the Lions to a 19-point win.
This Thursday night’s match against St Kilda will be the second of the five-year agreement which will see Easter Thursday matches remain at the Gabba until at least 2014.
With five wins from five attempts on Easter Thursday at the Gabba, the Lions will be hoping the tradition continues in 2011.
BRISBANE LIONS EASTER THURSDAY RESULTS
Thursday 17 April 2003
Round 4 @ The Gabba
Brisbane Lions 14.11 (95) def Collingwood 11.15 (81)
Thursday 8 April 2004
Round 3 @ The Gabba
Brisbane Lions 21.11 (137) def Collingwood 12.5 (77)
Thursday 24 March 2005
Round 1 @ The Gabba
Brisbane Lions 18.8 (116) def St Kilda 13.15 (93)
Thursday 13 April 2006
Round 3 @ Etihad Stadium
St Kilda 19.10 (124) def Brisbane Lions 12.15 (87)
Thursday 5 April 2007
Round 2 @ The Gabba
Brisbane Lions 15.12 (102) def St Kilda 7.8 (50)
2008: The Lions weren't scheduled to play on Easter Thursday
2009: The Lions weren't scheduled to play on Easter Thursday
Thursday 1 April 2010
Round 2 @ The Gabba
Brisbane Lions 16.11 (107) def Carlton 12.16 (88)
Thursday 21 April 2011
Round 5 @ The Gabba
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