Brisbane Lions (8-6, 7th – 32 points) v Essendon (5-9, 12th – 20 points)
Saturday 12 July 2008
Telstra Dome @ 7:10pm (local time)
2008 AFLQ STATE LEAGUE SEASON: ROUND 14
Suncoast Lions (7-5-1, 3rd) v Morningside (7-6, 4th)
Sunday 13 July 2008
Esplen Oval @ 2:00pm (local time)
PUBLIC TRAINING SESSIONS
Monday 7 July: The Gabba @ 3pm. Entry via Gate 2 from 2:45pm
Wednesday 9 July: The Gabba @ 3pm. Entry via Gate 2 from 2:15pm
CURRENT INJURY LIST
Travis Johnstone (Hamstring) – Available
Scott Harding (Knee) – Available
Jason Roe (Hamstring) – Test
Albert Proud (Chest) – Test
Matthew Tyler (Back/Hamstring) – Test
Pearce Hanley (Hamstring) – Test
Colm Begley (Quad) – 1 week
Pat Garner (Hamstring) – 1-3 weeks
Nigel Lappin (Achilles) – TBC
FLIGHT DETAILS
Friday 11 July: Lions players depart Brisbane Domestic Airport @ 11am
Sunday 13 June: Lions players arrive back at Brisbane Domestic Airport @ 1:50am
Please note: The Lions are chartering a flight back to Brisbane at 11:30pm directly after Saturday night’s clash with the Bombers.
LIONS ROAR INTO HYPERDOME
The Vodafone Brisbane Lions will visit the Hyperdome Piazza in Loganholme (corner Pacific Highway and Bryants Road) for a big mid-season ‘meet the fans’ event from 6pm on Thursday 10 July 2008.
10 x Lions players including co-captain Luke Power, Michael Rischitelli, Jamie Charman, Daniel Merrett, Scott Harding, Wayde Mills, Matthew Moody, Bradd Dalziell, Matt Austin and Joel Tippett will be on hand for autographs and photos and to participate in trivia competitions and on-stage interviews with Network Ten’s Big Brother and Friday Night Live host Mike Goldman as MC.
VICTORIAN SUPPORTERS EVENT
All Victorian-based members and supporters are invited to join the team at the Albert Park Cricket Ground in St Kilda (corner St Kilda Road and Roy Street) on Friday 11 July from 4pm to watch the Lions perform a light training session.
There will be a BBQ available as well as opportunities for Lions fans to grab some autographs and photos with the players after the session.
This event will replace the supporters’ after-match function initially scheduled to take place following the Lions’ clash with Essendon at Telstra Dome on Saturday 12 July.
2008 AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON: ROUND 15, HEAD TO HEAD
The Lions have won 9 of their 17 matches against Essendon for a winning percentage of 53%.
LAST FOUR YEARS
2005: Round 6 - W - 21.10 (136) to 12.16 (88) @ TD (N) (won by 48pts)
2005: Round 17 - W - 17.12 (114) to 14.17 (101) @ Gabba (N) (won by 13pts)
2006: Round 2 - W - 17.13 (115) to 15.7 (97) @ Gabba (N) (won by 18pts)
2006: Round 17 - L - 18.15 (123) to 25.10 (160) @ TD (N) (lost by 37pts)
2007: Round 8 - L - 8.15 (63) to 18.19 (127) @ TD (lost by 64pts)
FAST FOOTY FACTS
Current AFL Statistical Leaderboards:
Goals: 4th Daniel Bradshaw – 47 goals, =5th Jonathan Brown – 46 goals
Goal Assists: =1st Luke Power – 17
Disposals: 8th Luke Power – 364
Handballs: 8th Luke Power – 190
Contested Possessions: 3rd Simon Black – 140, 6th Luke Power – 131
Centre Clearances: 4th Simon Black – 71
Marks: =6th Jonathan Brown – 110
Hitouts: 8th Jamie Charman – 262
Tackles: 7th Luke Power – 74
Rebound 50s: =9th Joel Macdonald – 50
Running Bounces: =6th Joel Macdonald – 46
One percenters: 1st Daniel Merrett – 96, =8th Joel Patfull – 73
The Lions have lost their past two encounters against the Bombers by an average margin of 50.5 points.
The Lions have won three and drawn one of their past four night matches played in Victoria.
Lions co-captain Simon Black has averaged close to 28 disposals in his past four matches against Essendon.
The Lions are yet to lose consecutive matches so far this season.
As the AFL ladder currently stands, the Lions’ six losses have come against the top four sides (Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn and Sydney) and the bottom two teams (West Coast and Melbourne).
The Lions have kicked 210 behinds this season – more than any other team in the AFL. Hawthorn has kicked the second most with 194.
The Lions currently have the second worst goal-to-behind ratio in the AFL. The Lions have kicked a total of 204 goals and 210 behinds for a 49% accuracy rate. The West Coast Eagles are currently the most inaccurate team with 148 goals and 169 behinds (47%).
LAST TIME THEY MET
It was a tough day at the office as former Essendon captain James Hird turned on a vintage performance to hand the Lions their worst defeat for the season.
The Lions welcomed Troy Selwood back for his first match since undergoing back surgery in the off-season. He was superb with two goals and a career-high 35 disposals.
Richard Hadley seemed to appear in the action everywhere and Simon Black battled manfully in a match where there were few winners for the Lions.
Brownlow Medal Votes: 3 - M. Johnson (Ess), 2 - A. Davey (Ess), 1 – J. Hird (Ess)
