Allen Christensen returns from injury for this opening match of NEAFL Round 3 action, the first of a tantalising double header at South Pine Sports Complex between the Lions and the Sharks, facing off at 11.30am before the Hornets and Suns lock horns at 2.30pm.

The Lions have 21 listed players and if they win, it will be the first 3-0 start to a NEAFL season the Lions have enjoyed since their last premiership season in 2013.

Meanwhile Southport have made 5 changes following a disappointing match against Sydney last week. Coach Nathan Bock has showed no mercy, cutting four players, with a fifth in Isaac Franks also omitted due to a hamstring injury. This match is a golden opportunity for the Lions, a big win could solidify their credentials as competition front runners alongside Sydney University.

It’s also a golden opportunity for fans to come and see the next generation of Lions stars, as the match is a standalone fixture, the seniors getting their chance to impress against Richmond on Sunday.

WHERE AND WHEN

11.30am, Saturday 15 April

South Pine Sports Complex, 620 South Pine Road, Brendale

FORM

Brisbane Lions (2nd): WW
Southport (10th): LL

LAST TIME THEY MET

Round 17, 2016: Southport 17.8 (110) def Brisbane 4.11 (35) @ Southport
Round 11, 2016: Southport 13.18 (96) def Brisbane 9.15 (69) @ Southport
Round 1, 2015: Southport 14.14 (98) def Brisbane 13.12 (90) @ Palm Beach

DO THE MATHS

The early season record informing this match doesn’t make for nice reading for Sharks fans, as the Lions accounted for the Swans by 26 points in Round 1, then last week the Sharks were thrashed by Sydney to the tune of 102 points. If Southport fails to make significant improvements to their intensity from last week, this match has the potential to be another blowout.

WE ARE NUMBER ONE

The respective number 1’s for both sides had plenty of the footy last week, with Ben Keays (39 disposals, 9 marks) recapturing some of the form he enjoyed prior to being selected in the AFL side last season, whilst former Werribee and Footscray product Jordan Keras (38 disposals, 17 clearances) scrapped it out valiantly in the Sharks’ heavy defeat to the Swans.

HIGH BEAMS

After a torrid run with injury Claye Beams has made a triumphant return to his best, averaging 27.5 possessions and 10 marks over the first two rounds of the NEAFL season. So impressive has the younger of the Beams brothers been that he’s also named on an extended bench for the AFL.

TEAM

In: Liam Dawson, Jake Barrett, Josh Walker, Jack Frost, Allen Christensen

Out: Ryan Dadds, Cedric Cox, Marco Paparone, Jai Kennedy 

*This match will be streamed live on NEAFL TV (youtube.com/northeastafl)
*Live Champion Data statistics available on the Official NEAFL App