The Brisbane Lions have defeated the Sydney Swans for the first time since the 2013 NEAFL Grand Final with a 26-point opening round victory at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday.

The Lion’s continuous pressure earned put them in good stead as they kept their noses in front to earn a 17.9 (111) to 12.13 (85) victory.

The 2016 minor premiers were favourites to come out on top, and within the first minute of the game Darcy Cameron had booted Sydney’s first goal.

Sydney’s goal streak continued but the Lions were quick to fight back with the next three, as they went into quarter-time two points clear.

The Lions booted five goals to three in the second quarter and held on to their buffer for the remainder of the match, as denying the Swans the chance to build any momentum.

Brisbane Lions NEAFL Coach Mitch Hahn said it was a morale-boosting win the young side needed to have.

“Every time the Swans challenged us we were able to respond and I think that is fantastic for a young group of men,” he said.

“There are still a lot of learning opportunities that come out of the game today. The Swans had some good patches where they were able to come on top of us.”

Lion’s midfielder Claye Beams was also pleased with their effort, saying nothing short of a four-quarter effort was going to get the job done.

“It was going to be a tough ask to beat the Swans today and it would take 23 blokes to play their role and I think today we got that,” he said.

“We’re a young team and little wins like this we like to embrace and enjoy, because we haven’t had a lot of them, but at the same time we move on and have to work hard during the week”.

It was a tough loss for the Swans who had much success throughout last season, but coach Rhyce Shaw said a new season would bring new challenges for his side.

“You’re only as good as your last game. They structured their game really well and we just couldn’t match that,” he said.

Ruckman Archie Smith was superb for the Lions while Josh Schache booted four goals in a promising display.

James Rose and Jordan Dawson top-scored for the Swans with three majors, with Brandon Jack prominent through the midfield.

The spirit of the Brisbane Lions is what secured their win today and next week they travel to Darwin to play NT Thunder while the Sydney Swans take on Southport at Blacktown International Sports Park

BRISBANE 3.3 8.4 13.8 17.9 (111)

SYDNEY 3.1 6.5 10.11 12.13 (85)

GOALS – Brisbane: J Schache 4 J Freeman 3 C Cox 2 M Hammelmann 2 S Copland 2 B Grewar O McInerney H McCluggage J Berry. Sydney: J Rose 3 J Dawson 3 C Sinclair D Cameron 2 W Gowers J Foote.

BEST – Brisbane: A Smith I McIrerney C Beams J Berry M Hinge J Schache. Sydney: B Jack J Maibaum J Dawson J Rose S Edwards C O’Riordan.