Brisbane recruit Bella Ayre to play first game for Lions against her old side, Carlton

BRISBANE recruit Bella Ayre will play her first game for the Lions on Saturday night against her old side Carlton, after she was traded to the club in exchang for marquee forward Tayla Harris. LIONS V BLUES TEAMS

Lions recruit Bella Ayre will play her first game for the club on Saturday night. Picture: lions.com.au

BRISBANE Lions recruit Bella Ayre could come back to haunt her old club Carlton on Saturday, with the promising forward to add some spark to Craig Starcevich’s side.

Ayre, who came to the Lions in exchange for Tayla Harris, has been named as the only change to Brisbane’s line-up following their nine-point loss to the Western Bulldogs over the weekend.

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She will come onto the bench for Gabby Collingwood, with Starcevich opting for Ayre due to her marking skills.

The 19-year-old had a delayed start to her year after undergoing a minor knee surgery in the off-season, but Starcevich is confident she is ready to help Brisbane back into the winner’s circle.

Lions recruit Bella Ayre will play her first game for the club on Saturday night. Picture: lions.com.au

Bella Ayre played for the Blues in the inaugural season. Picture: Michael Klein

“Bella has come back from some minor injures and worked very hard to get herself into a position to be ready by Round 3,” Starcevich said.

“She has excellent marking skills and clean hands. We are excited to see her play ... she is tough.”

The Lions will be desperate for a win after last week’s loss saw them slip four points behind joint leaders Carlton, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne on the ladder.

Ayre said she was feeling a little bit of pressure heading into the clash in Melbourne, but also knew what to expect from her former teammates.

The Lions will face ex-teammate Tayla Harris. Picture: Getty

“It is an important win this weekend,” she said.

“You always feel pressure going into a game but I think I will be right ... I have white line fever and I just want to get out and play a good game.

“I know what to expect from them. I know a lot of the players pretty well and I can see some game structures that have stuck.”

CARLTON v BRISBANE LIONS

Ikon Park, Saturday 17 February, 7.45pm EDT

BLUES

B: R.Hicks 24, D.Hardiman 31, G.Pound 6

HB: K.Harrington 9, A.Downie 30, K.Gillespie-Jones 5

C: S.Li 35

HF: K.Shierlaw 25, T.Harris 22, N.Stevens 21

F: G.Gee 19, D.Vescio 3, K.Loynes 2

Foll: B.Moody 16, S.Hosking 10, M.Gay 8

I/C: L.Brazzale 12, T.Lucas-Rodd 18, K.Grieve 28, J.Hosking 11, S.Audley 26

Emerg: S.Last 7, N.Plane 32

In: K.Gillespie-Jones, K.Grieve

Out: B.Davey (knee), S.Last

LIONS

B: N.Hildebrand 22, K.Lutkins 13, J.Stanton 17

HB: K.Ashmore 10, L.Kaslar 11, S.Campbell 20

C: E.Bates 1

HF: N.Exon 15, T.Randall 16, E.Zielke 8

F: J.Wuetschner 23, S.Frederick-Traub 14, K.McCarthy 9

Foll: S.Webb 4, J.Zanchetta 7, A.Anderson 18

I/C: B.Koenen 3, A.Clarke 21, I.Ayre 2, S.Conway 12, B.Gibson 25

Emerg: M.Hunt 6, G.Collingwood 28

In: I.Ayre

Out: G.Collingwood

Originally published as Brisbane recruit Bella Ayre to play first game for Lions against her old side, Carlton