NEAFL Round 18
Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans
3.45pm, Saturday 4 August
The SCG, Sydney
Gates open 3.40pm
Watch the live-stream of the match below:
Head to Lions NEAFL Twitter account for score updates and player stats throughout the match.
Defending premiers, the Brisbane Lions, are now in an almighty fight to keep its finals dream of back-to-back flags alive.
Following a crucial win against Gold Coast last weekend, the Lions can sniff a chance of finals contention after moving to
Saturday's clash against Sydney Swans is set to be a blockbuster curtain-raiser at the SCG and could be the turning point in Brisbane's season, which ends the virtual elimination finals to follow against Gold Coast and the Giants away from home.
Fresh off a bye, Sydney’s resurgence to the top two this season has been no mean feat after it lost the opening four games of the year.
A hot streak of nine consecutive victories was broken in Round 16 by Gold Coast for the Swans.
Returning to the Lions side for Round 18 is experienced Lions Ryan Lester and Jake Barrett.
First-year, Brandon Starcevich will be missing from Saturday's line-up as he makes his AFL debut in Round 20 against North Melbourne.
After showing impressive form through the NEAFL so far this season, Ryan Bastinac's hard work has been rewarded with selection in Chris Fagan's 22-man side for Saturday's AFL match.
Cedric Cox and Zac Bailey also return to the side.
Team
| B | #35 - Ryan Lester | #45 - Jack Frost | #21 - Sam Skinner |
| HB | #1- Ben Keays | #24 - Liam Dawson | #20 - Cedric Cox |
| C | #8 - Rohan Bewick | #17 - Claye Beams | #42 - Mitch Hinge |
| HF | #43 - Jake Barrett | #34 - Toby Wooller | #39 - Corey Lyons |
| F | #50 - Jai Kennealy | #38 - Connor Ballenden | #53 - Jesse Quint |
| FOL | #44 - Archie Smith | #33 - Zac Bailey | #19 - Jacob Allison |
| INT | #52 - Keidean Coleman | #54 - Justin Currie | #55 - Ben Sloan |
| #56 - Cody Stackelberg | #59 - Josh Preval | ||
| EMER | Billy Johnson | Daniel Fleming |
IN: #20 Cedric Cox, #35 Ryan Lester, #43 Jake Barrett, #54 Justin Currie, #33 Zac Bailey, #39 Corey Lyons
OUT: #37 Brandon Starcevich (AFL), #4 Ryan Bastinac (AFL), #32 Sam Mayes (AFL), #7 Tom Bell (Injured), #57 Connor McFayden (Injured), #54 Billy Johnson (Omitted).
Brisbane's Run Home
Round 18: Sydney v Brisbane at the SCG, 3.45pm
Round 19: BYE
Round 20: Gold Coast v Brisbane at Metricon Stadium,
Round 21: GIANTS v Brisbane at BISP,
