A host of Gabba blockbusters and seven games in Victoria are the highlights of the Brisbane Lions’ 2016 AFL Fixture released today.

The Lions will play Collingwood at the Gabba on a Saturday night, and Hawthorn in Brisbane for the first time in eight years, as part of a high-quality home schedule.

Other visitors to the Gabba will include 2015 grand finalists West Coast, preliminary finalists North Melbourne and Fremantle, as well as Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Port Adelaide and Gold Coast Suns.

And in good news for the Club’s Melbourne-based supporters, the Lions will play six games in Melbourne for the first time since 2012, plus a seventh Victorian game against the Cats in Geelong.

Two of those games are at the MCG against Melbourne and Richmond, with four at Etihad Stadium against Western Bulldogs, Carlton, Essendon and St Kilda.

The Lions face a testing start to the season with Round 1 against West Coast Eagles at Domain Stadium in an Easter Sunday twilight game on March 27, before returning home for a Saturday twilight clash with North Melbourne at the Gabba on April 2.

Round 3 is a late-afternoon clash with Geelong on Sunday, April 10, before returning to the Gabba for a twilight QClash with the Suns on Saturday, April 16.

During 2016, the Lions will twice play West Coast, Geelong, Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and Carlton.

Brisbane Lions CEO Greg Swann said: “It’s a pretty challenging fixture and a particularly tough start with the opening three games against potentially top-four teams.

“But we are delighted to have 7 games in Victoria, that is a great result for our loyal fans who have been asking for an extra game in Melbourne for a while now.

"And to get Hawthorn, Collingwood, Carlton, Geelong and the Suns as blockbusters at the Gabba gives us some big games to market to the fans up in Queensland."

Nine of those games at the Gabba will be played on Saturdays – two nights, four twilights and three afternoons – as well as a Sunday afternoon and a Sunday twilight game.

The increase in Melbourne games is a good result for loyal Lions supporters in Victoria, after consistent lobbying by the Club.

It comes as the Lions recorded a 20 per cent increase in Victorian membership this year on the back of efforts to re-connect with a range of events aimed at giving Victorian members better access to the Club, players and coaches.

There were strong turnouts at training sessions at Wesley College leading into Melbourne games, as well as the Player Sponsor and Coaches Club functions, as well as a highly-engaged group who took part in the Victorian Members’ Forum at Etihad Stadium.

Brisbane Lions 2016 memberships are on sale now.

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