The Magpies’ clash is set to conclude a spectacular fortnight of football for Queensland AFL supporters - falling just six days after the Lions host Carlton at the Gabba on May 25. It will be only the third Friday night home game for the Lions in the past decade.
The Lions, who finished with a 10-12 record in 2012, begin the 2013 season at Etihad Stadium against the Western Bulldogs in Round 1, before hosting their home opener in Round 2 against Adelaide at the Gabba.
The Lions will play host to a number of big-ticket fixtures throughout the season, including those against Collingwood and Carlton (Rd 9), as well as Geelong (Rd 13), St Kilda (Rd 19), and QClash VI against the Gold Coast Suns (Rd 15).
Teams that the Lions will face twice in 2013 are Geelong, North Melbourne (both top-eight in 2012), Melbourne, Gold Coast and Western Bulldogs.
Brisbane Lions CEO Malcolm Holmes today welcomed the release of the fixture.
“Overall we are very pleased with the 2013 fixture, which represents a good balance between our football and commercial requirements,” he said.
“Hosting a Friday night blockbuster against Collingwood is a fantastic outcome, as well as other big games against top-eight teams from 2012 like Adelaide, West Coast, and Geelong.”
“It’s also terrific news that we will have an increase of games shown live on Free to Air, and of course all games will be broadcast live into Queensland on 7mate.”
Holmes did, however, express his disappointment the AFL was not able to accommodate the Club’s request for six games in Victoria this year, with a number of factors involved in the change.
The Lions will play five games in Victoria in 2013 - and six games in total, after the AFL last week unveiled the NAB Cup schedule.
Brisbane faces Collingwood at Etihad Stadium in the last round of the NAB Cup on Saturday 9 March.
“Our Victorian members need to be aware the Club requested six games in Melbourne, however, with the introduction of Gold Coast and GWS, as well as the commercial deals of a number of Melbourne clubs to host games interstate - in our case, Melbourne (Darwin - Rd 17) and Hawthorn (Launceston - Rd 14) - the AFL was unable to accommodate this request in this year’s fixture,” Holmes said.
“We’re obviously disappointed with this outcome but understand the changing landscape the AFL now operates under.
“We will continue to lobby the AFL for six games in Melbourne in future years.”
As part of the fixture, the Lions have been scheduled four times on national free-to-air television - up from two in 2012.
Every Lions game will again be shown live into Queensland in 2013 on 7mate.
This season will mark 10 years since the Lions’ Grand Final victory over Collingwood that secured a remarkable third successive premiership.
View the full Brisbane Lions' full 2013 AFL Fixture
