Brisbane Lions set to host two Friday night games at the Gabba in 2020
Brisbane’s rise to the top of the AFL in 2019 has been rewarded with a blockbuster home fixture for the 2020 season. SEE THE FULL LIONS DRAW HERE.
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The Gabba will be ‘Blockbuster Central’ in 2020.
After their fairytale run into the finals in 2019 that captured the imagination of the AFL world, the Brisbane Lions have been handed their most pumped-up prime time fixture in recent memory that will have the turnstiles spinning and TV remotes clicking.
Brisbane will host two Thursday night showpiece matches against Collingwood on Easter Thursday (Round 4 - April 9) and against Hawthorn (Round 15 – June 25).
The Lions will also have two Friday night home games against reigning premier Richmond (Round 8 –May 8) and Melbourne (Round 14 – June 19).
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It represents how far – and how quickly – Brisbane have rocketed from the AFL’s outhouse to the penthouse.
They once owned the graveyard shift games but are now front-and-centre in the competition’s corner office.
In another coup for the Lions, they will have home games against Geelong (Round 17 – July 11) and Essendon (Round 23) giving Brisbane five home games against big drawing Victorian clubs.
In 2018, Brisbane featured in just one match on Channel 7 but in 2020, they will have 10 games on the free-to-air network.
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By finishing in the top six in 2019, Brisbane will play two fellow top six teams twice – Collingwood and Geelong.
They will also play Hawthorn and North Melbourne twice along with the Gold Coast to ensure home-and-away QClash derbies which will take place in Round 10 (May 23 – Gabba) and Round 22 (August 15 – Metricon Stadium).
Brisbane will make two trips to the MCG – Round 1 v Hawthorn (March 22) and Round 16 against Collingwood (July 4) as part of their five matches in Victoria.
They will also head to Tasmania in Round 13 to take on the Kangaroos while their finals re-match with GWS will take place in Canberra in Round 20.
“We’re delighted to have some marquee Thursday and Friday night games at The Gabba,” Lions CEO Greg Swann said.
● THE SIX: The biggest Gabba matches of 2020
“The last time we hosted a Friday night regular season game was 2013 against Collingwood. Our Captain Dayne Zorko and Ryan Lester are the only two remaining players from that game.
“We saw crowds flock to The Gabba with the return of Easter Thursday in 2019 and we know next year our members and supporters will get behind us at these games and pack the stands.
“We’re also really pleased with the 10 free-to-air games on Channel 7 we’ve been given as well as the eleven games with our long term partner, Fox.
“We can’t wait to kick off our season against the Hawks on the biggest stage, the MCG, in Round 1. What a reward for our passionate Victorian members and supporters.”
BRISBANE LIONS DRAW 2020
R1 v Hawks at the MCG, Sunday, March 22, 3.20pm
R2 v Kangaroos at the Gabba, Saturday, March 28, 6.25pm
R3 v Crows at Adelaide Oval, Saturday, April 4, 4.05pm
R4 v Magpies at the Gabba, Thursday, April 9, 7.35pm
R5 v Bulldogs at Docklands, Saturday, April 18, 7.25pm
R6 v Swans at the Gabba, Saturday, April 25, 7.25pm
R7 v Cats at Kardinia Park, Saturday, May 2, 7.25pm
R8 v Tigers at the Gabba, Friday, May 8, 7.50pm
R9 v Power at Adelaide Oval, Saturday, May 16, 7.10pm
R10 v Suns at the Gabba, Saturday, May 23, 7.25pm
R11 v Dockers at Perth Stadium, Saturday, May 30, 6.10pm
R12 BYE
R13 v Kangaroos at Bellerive Oval, Saturday, June 13, 1.45pm
R14 v Demons at the Gabba, Friday, June 19, 7.50pm
R15 v Hawks at the Gabba, Thursday, June 25, 7.20pm
R16 v Magpies at the MCG, Saturday, July 4, 1.45pm
R17 v Cats at the Gabba, Saturday, July 11, 7.25pm
R18 v Blues at Docklands, Sunday, July 19, 3.20pm
R19 v Saints at the Gabba, Sunday, July 26, 3.20pm
R20 v Giants at Manuka Oval, Saturday, August 1, 2.10pm
R21 v Eagles at the Gabba, Saturday, August 8, 2.10pm
R22 v Suns at Carrara, Saturday, August 15, 7.25pm
R23 v Bombers at the Gabba, August 20-23 (floating round)
THE GOOD
*THE AFL has taken notice of the Lions and given them primetime slots against big teams. Hawthorn and Collingwood at home on Thursday nights, Richmond and Melbourne at home on Friday nights, and hosting the Cats, the Bombers and the Eagles will be huge. It also gives the Lions the best shot at beating these tough teams on their own turf rather than travelling.
THE BAD
*JUST about every one of their big games comes off a five or six day break having travelled interstate the round before. The Crows in Adelaide with four days off before the Pies in Brisbane is particularly tough, as well as the trip back from Geelong before taking on Richmond after five days off.
THE UGLY
*THE first nine rounds are tough. The Kangaroos and Swans at home might be soft targets, but every other match will be a challenge given the other non-finalists they play – the Hawks, the Crows and the Power – all play at home.
– with Kyle Pollard
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