Brisbane Lions (1-0, 4th) v Carlton (1-0, 3rd)
Thursday 1 April 2010
The Gabba @ 7:40pm (local time)
2010 QAFL STATE LEAGUE SEASON: ROUND 11*
Brisbane Lions Reserves v Mt Gravatt
Thursday 1 April 2010
The Gabba @ 3:50pm (local time) - curtain raiser
*NB: The Lions Reserves' season opener against Mt Gravatt is a rescheduled Round 11 clash to align the Reserves with the senior team's Bye Round in late June. This game will be the first of ten QAFL Rivalry Challenge Matches to be played in 2010.
PUBLIC TRAINING SESSIONS
With the team's short five-day turnaround, there are no public training sessions this week.
QAFL RIVALRY CHALLENGE MATCHES
The QAFL have introduced Rivalry Challenge Matches as part of their 2010 fixture.
The QAFL will host a total of 10 Rivalry Challenge Matches throughout 2010 with each game carrying a purse of $500 prize money for the winner. Each club will play two Rivalry Challenge Matches against the team considered their closest rival throughout the season for a potential $1,000 return.
The Brisbane Lions Reserves and their rivalry pairing Mt Gravatt will clash in the first ever Rivalry Challenge Match in the QAFL season opener at the Gabba this Thursday afternoon at 3:20pm.
CURRENT INJURY LIST
Amon Buchanan (thumb) - TBC
Jed Adcock (ankle) - Test
Callum Bartlett (knee) - 2 weeks
Sam Sheldon (back) - 2-3 weeks
Bryce Retzlaff (shin) - 3 weeks
Mitch Golby (knee) - 4 weeks
Jamie Charman (ankle) - 5 weeks
Bart McCulloch (quad) - 5 weeks
Xavier Clarke (knee) - Indefinite
LIONS V BLUES: HEAD TO HEAD
The Lions have won 11 of their 20 matches against Carlton for a winning percentage of 55%. However, Carlton have won three of the past four encounters between these two sides - including two at the Gabba.
Biggest win: 117 points @ The Gabba in Round 16 2007
Biggest loss: 82 points @ The MCG in the 2000 Semi-Final
Most goals (for): Jonathan Brown (10) @ The Gabba in Round 16 2007
Most goals (against): Lance Whitnall (9) @ The Gabba in Round 16 2000
RECENT HISTORY
2007: Round 5 - 21.10 (136) to 18.16 (124) @ Etihad (N) - Won by 12
2007: Round 16 - 25.13 (163) to 6,10 (46) @ The Gabba - Won by 117
2008: Round 8 - 18.17 (125) to 12.20 (92) @ Etihad - Won by 33
2008: Round 21 - 16.13 (109) to 18.17 (115) @ The Gabba (N) - Lost by 6
2009: Round 2 - 15.10 (100) to 18.11 (119) @ Etihad (N) - Lost by 19
2009: Round 11 - 16.10 (106) to 16.16 (112) @ The Gabba (N) - Lost by 6
2009: Elimination Final - 16.15 (111) to 15.14 (104) @ The Gabba (N) - Won by 7
LAST TIME THEY MET
The Lions entered their first Finals clash in five years with question marks over the fitness of some key players.
Carlton took the early ascendancy with three quick goals before the Lions counter-punched during a high quality second quarter to take a one-point lead at half-time.
The Blues took control in a commanding third quarter - kicking six goals to the Lions' two - and shot out to a 30-point lead early in the final quarter.
Buoyed by a deafening Gabba crowd, the Lions piled on six straight goals to secure a seven-point win and keep the Club's perfect September record at the Gabba in tact.
The triumphed proved the greatest ever comeback during the last quarter of an AFL Final.
FAST FOOTY FACTS
Lions Statistical Leaders:
Goals: 1st Jonathan Brown (5), =6th Brendan Fevola (3), =6th Luke Power (3)
Goal Assists: =2nd Matthew Leuenberger (3)
Marks: =1st Jonathan Brown (14), =8th Brendan Fevola (10)
Contested Marks: =2nd Brent Staker (3)
Handballs: =10th Michael Rischitelli (18)
Contested Possessions: =4th Jared Brennan (14)
Inside 50s: 1st Justin Sherman (10)
Rebound 50s: 3rd Josh Drummond (8), =7th Travis Johnstone (6)
One Percenters: =5th Daniel Merrett (8)
Lions full-forward Brendan Fevola will face his former club for the first time in a regular season AFL match this Thursday night. Fevola kicked 575 goals in 187 matches with the Blues between 1999 and 2009. He was also a seven-time leading goal-kicker with Carlton.
The past three matches between these two sides at the Gabba have been decided by a total of just 19 points. Carlton have won each of their past two regular season matches at the Gabba by one single goal while the Lions triumphed in the Elimination Final by seven points.
Carlton Captain Chris Judd has polled Brownlow Medal votes in each of his team's past three regular season matches at the Gabba. However, Judd is still serving a three-match suspension from last year's Elimination Final and will be absent this Thursday night.
Each of the past four matches between these two sides have involved significant comebacks:
- In Round 21 of 2008, the Lions led by 32 points at three quarter time only to be held goal-less in the final quarter and eventually lose by six points.
- In Round 2 of 2009, Carlton led by seven goals at half-time before the Lions fought back in the third quarter to edge within a kick. However, the Blues steadied and ran out eventual 19-point winners.
- In Round 11 of 2009, the Lions trailed by 30 points at the final change before piling on seven final term goals to sneak within a kick of the Blues in the dying stages of the match. Carlton were eventually able to hold on by six points.
- In the 2009 Elimination Final, the Lions achieved the greatest ever final quarter comeback in an AFL Final. The Lions trailed by as many as 30 points early in the fourth quarter before eventually prevailing by seven points.
The two most recent players to have worn the number 14 Lions guernsey in a senior match - Richard Hadley and Lachlan Henderson - are both now playing for Carlton.
The Lions have scored 100 points or more in each of their past seven matches against Carlton.
This Thursday night's match between the Lions and Blues will be the first of five blockbuster Easter Thursday night AFL clashes hosted by the Gabba over the next five years after an agreement between the Queensland Government and the Australian Football League.
