Brisbane Lions v Essendon
Friday 18 February 2011
Etihad Stadium @ 7:15pm (local time)
Brisbane Lions v St Kilda
Friday 18 February 2011
Etihad Stadium @ 8:20pm (local time)
2011 AFL NAB CUP FORMAT (ROUND 1)
The new NAB Cup pre-season format for Round 1 will see the Lions face Essendon (7:15pm) and St Kilda (8:20pm) in consecutive matches with each comprising two 20-minute halves. Essendon and St Kilda will then face off against each other in the last of the three round robin matches for the evening.
The six winner from each pool of three teams, plus the two sides with the best records among the remaining clubs, will qualify for Round 2 of the NAB Cup competition, allowing for a traditional Quarter Final set-up of eight teams, before progressing into Semi Finals and the Grand Final.
The ten unsuccessful teams from Round 1 of the NAB Cup will be scheduled to partake in the NAB Challenge series of practice matches.
QUEENSLAND SPIRIT GUERNSEY
The Lions launched the 'Queensland Spirit' guernsey while in Toowoomba as part of the Club's AFL Community Camp last week.
The new jumper design is a by-product of the inspirational attitude and mateship that Queenslanders have shown over the past month in the face of adversity.
The one-off guernsey will be worn this Friday night in the team's NAB Cup matches against Essendon and St Kilda at Etihad Stadium and will then be auctioned off with all proceeds being donated back to disaster relief following the devastating floods in South-East Queensland and the trail of destruction left by Cyclone Yasi in far North Queensland.
The full set of guernseys will be auctioned on the Lions' website (www.lions.com.au) from Monday 14 February with bids closing on Monday 21 February.
In addition, the Club will provide 50 fans with an opportunity to have their photo taken with the entire active Lions playing list - wearing the Queensland Spirit jumper - for $500 with all proceeds being donated back to the community.
The photographs will be signed by Senior Coach Michael Voss and Captain Jonathan Brown. Interested parties are urged to contact the Club on 07 3335 1733 or email spetersen@lions.com.au
FLOOD RELIEF INITIATIVES
This Friday night's NAB Cup match will be dedicated to the AFL's - and the Lions' - response to the flood and cyclone disasters across Queensland and other parts of Australia.
In addition to the matches, the NAB Cup festivities will include a nine-a-side Legends and Celebrities match, and 15% of all gate receipts from the first round of NAB Cup matches will be going towards supporting those football communities affected b floods.
Lions staff and players have spent a great deal of time lending a hand in the community by visiting evacuation centres, donating useful items and supplies to affected areas, while also assisting with the substantial clean-up.
The Club donated $20,000 to the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal as part of the AFL's overall $500,000 donation, have diistributed 100 signed guernseys to be used in fundraising in partnership with Major Sponsor Conergy, and have donated corporate boxes to junior Australian Rules football clubs devastated by the floods to auction off and raise recovery funds.
LIONS VICTORIAN FAMILY FUN DAY
The Brisbane Lions will host its annual Family Fun Day in Victorian this Saturday 19 February at Etihad Stadium (740 Bourke Street, Docklands - entry via Gate 2) from 9:30pm - 12:30pm.
All Victorian-based Lions fans are encouraged to attend the event which will feature all players who participated in the NAB Cup competition the night before, as well as some other special guests.
The travelling squad will be available to sign autographs and participate in the day's activities.
The team will also be officially presented with their 2011 Lions guernseys by a host of former Club greats including Kevin Murray, Bill Stephen, Ross Thornton, Martin Pike, Darren 'Doc' Wheildon, George Coates and a selection of others.
Among other things, fans can enjoy exclusive access the Etihad Stadium changerooms, try their luck at the handball competition, speak intimately with the Club's coaching staff, get up close and personal with historic Fitzroy silverware and memorabilia, bid on a range of silent auction items and purchase food and drinks from a variety of outlets throughout the venue.
There will be plenty of entertainment and activities to keep the kids occupied, while Lions 2011 memberships and merchandise - including the new range of KooGa apparel - will also be available.
Any person who signs up as a Victorian member prior to Saturday's Family Fun Day will also go into the draw to win a professional photo with the travelling team at the event.
Professional photos with the team are still available for $150 and will be taken at 12 midday immediately before the team departs for Brisbane. Please contact 03 8850 5600 or email cfrankl@lions.com.au to pre-book your photo with the travelling team. But hurry because only limited numbers are still available.
Etihad Stadium - which is the new home of the Club's Victorian operations - is easily accessible by public transport (walking distance from Southern Cross train station) and also has an underground parking facility (weekend flat rate is $9).
PUBLIC TRAINING SESSIONS
Thursday 17 February: 9:15am @ Giffin Park, Coorparoo.
FAST FOOTY FACTS
The merged Brisbane Lions are one of only three teams to have never won a pre-season competition together with the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle. However, the Club has won two pre-season premierships with Fitzroy in 1959 and 1978.
The Lions have twice made through to the Grand Final of the pre-season competition since the 1997 merger - in 2001 against Port Adelaide and in 2007 against Carlton.
The Lions were eliminated in the first round of last year's NAB competition by the Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Luke Power has played more matches in the pre-season competition than any other current Lions player with 28. Only Geelong veteran Darren Milburn (33 games) and North Melbourne skipper Brent Harvey (30) have played more.
