The Lions are back at home to host the Essendon Bombers for their Round 12 clash on Thursday 29 May.

Who: Brisbane Lions vs Essendon Bombers
Where: The Gabba
When: Thursday 29 May at 7:30pm (local).
Gates Open: 6:00pm, check your ticket for your entry gate.
Entry Conditions: Please read here

Weekly Notices

Maccas Kick 2 Kick is back this week!

Tickets 

Tickets → Tickets are on sale here. You can still become a digital member today!

AreaVIP → (Selling fast) Sit like a Fan. Feel like a VIP. 

GG → I’m best served in groups and I’m waiting for you to have your next Instagram-able moment. I’m doing footy a little differently and G, I think you’re going to like me.

The Verandah → Presented by Brooke's Blooms, immerse yourself in the exclusive privileges of “The Verandah”, boasting access to a private bar, a meticulously styled space, and countless opportunities for capturing unforgettable moments to add to your social media feed.

Premiership Lounge → (Selling fast) Offers a luxurious setting to reinvigorate, relax and revel in the golden days of old and new before, during, and after the goosebump-enducing action on field. 

Around the Grounds

Lions Park →  Located outside Gate 2 starting from 5pm.  The kids will enjoy face painting, a temporary tattoo station and bungy trampolining! There will be a Lions shop popup, membership marquee, and B105 will be broadcasting on location. For Bombers fans, there will also be an away shop popup to secure some supporters gear!

Hyundai → Skill tester, powered by the Hyundai IONIQ. Hyundai Height wall inside Gate 2 – see how you measure up against players and cars with the Hyundai height wall located inside Gate 2 at the Gabba.

Member Walls → Thanks to the Official Partner of Footy Fans, Youi is highlighting 2025 Season Members at Gate 2 (A-K), Gate 9 (K-M), Gate 7(M-L) & Gate 4 (S-Z). Make sure you snap a pic with your name!

Food & Drinks → Gabba food and beverage outlets will be open on all levels and gates.

Lions Shop → Our main shop is located near Gate 2, open from 10:00am - late. We will also have a pop up set up in Lions Park from 5:00pm for you to get your merch fix! Gates 2 and 9 are open from when gates open until 10min after first siren. Gate 4, Upper 7, Upper 4 are open from when gates open until 3/4 time. Away Merch in lower 7.

Round 12 Runsheet:

10:00am: Lions Shop Opens
5:00pm: Lions Park 
6:00pm: Public Gates
TBCpm: On-field Warmup
7:22pm: Lions run out
7:30pm: Bounce
QTR Time: RMHC - kicking goals
HALF Time: Auskick, Community Champion Interview, Lion King cam
3/4 Time: XXXX Handball Challenge - Nominate yourself now!
POST Game: Kick2Kick, Maccas Footballs giveaway & player interviews.

Park Map coming soon!

How to get to The Gabba

Trains & Buses → The easiest way to get to The Gabba. Your event ticket entitles you to TRAVEL FREE to and from matches, on the Queensland Rail City Network (excluding Airtrain). Brisbane City Council buses or a special event shuttle service from 4 hours prior to the event.

Remember to always plan your trip: Plan ahead →

Parking → There is no public parking at The Gabba. Fifteen minute parking limits apply across most of The Gabba Traffic Area on event days – we strongly recommend taking advantage of the public transport options. Find out more about parking restrictions around The Gabba on the Brisbane City Council website. 

Accessible Parking → An accessibility drop off zone is located near Gate 5 on Linton Street (near Duke St). There is limited accessibility parking across from Gate 5 on Duke St – you will require a PWD permit to access this area and is first in, first served. For all PWD and accessibility information, please visit The Gabba's accessibility page.

Drop Off/Pick Up → Due to road closures and changed traffic conditions we strongly recommend catching public transport to The Gabba, however should you wish to be dropped off or picked up this can be facilitated via designated drop off points just a short walk from the venue on either Princess Street, Potts Street or Hubert Street. Ask your lift legend to type Princess Street, Potts Street or Hubert Street into their navigation. 

Bike, Scooter & Walking → Bike and walking paths are available to access the stadium, snag an e-bike or e-scooter from the City or South Brisbane to get to The Gabba.

Broadcast

Watch → Free to air on 7Mate or stream on 7plus, Fox Footy, Kayo, BINGE or AFL Live Official App from 7pm.

ON THE back of a Herculean Hugh McCluggage performance, Brisbane has overcome another huge scare at the Gabba to outlast Essendon by 18 points in Thursday night football.

The 13.12 (90) to 11.6 (72) victory momentarily moves the premier into top spot and ensures it will finish round 12 in the top two, but it wasn’t easy.

LIONS v BOMBERS Full match coverage and stats

The Lions led by 32 points at quarter-time and were doing it with such ease the result looked a foregone conclusion. The Bombers had other ideas.

With Jye Caldwell and Nic Martin doing the midfield damage and emerging star Nate Caddy adding some spectacular highlights in the air and on the ground, Essendon hit the front early in the final quarter.

The Lions steadied with goals to Logan Morris, Kai Lohmann and Noah Answerth to notch their ninth win of the season. A spoil in the middle of the ground by Josh Dunkley that led to Lohmann’s goal from 50m was pivotal.

McCluggage continued his magnificent season with a career high 41 disposals, that included 12 score involvements, 11 marks, seven clearances and two goal assists.

When Brisbane did something constructive, he was often the architect, and when the Bombers were surging, McCluggage was pushing against the tide.

Kai Lohmann showed positive signs of a return to form after an injury-riddled start to his 2025 with three goals, while Will Ashcroft (30), Jarrod Berry (25) and Jaspa Fletcher (21) were also solid.

Unlike the match against Melbourne at the same venue less than a fortnight ago, the Lions were able to steady when challenged, despite coming off a five-day break.

Essendon was magnificent in defeat.

The Bombers looked off the pace in the first quarter, turning the ball over regularly and being punished by a slick Lions outfit the other way.

But with Peter Wright kicking two goals in the second quarter and Nic Martin starting to damage in the front half of the ground, the tide slowly turned.

Caldwell had a blistering 18-disposal third quarter to bring the Bombers right back into the contest, while Caddy’s aerial prowess came to the fore, matched by a spectacular overhead goal that levelled scores late in the term.

Despite missing a raft of tall players through injury, Brad Scott’s men ramped up the pressure after quarter-time and gave themselves every chance to snatch the four premiership points.

Cobra Kai finds form just when the Lions need it
After a disrupted start to the season, largely due to injury, Kai Lohmann made his first meaningful impact to a Brisbane win for 2025 – just when the Lions needed it most. The dynamic small forward has been stifled by ankle and shoulder injuries early in the season, and without a goal to his name entering round 12, was desperate to contribute. He kicked one off the ground from close range late in the first term to break his drought and then tellingly kicked crucial goals late in the third and midway through the fourth to finish with three for the night and have a major contribution to victory.

Caddy’s crazy goal
In the midst of a brilliant third quarter, Nate Caddy uncorked one of the great highlights of his young career with a thrilling goal over his head. Hemmed in the left forward pocket, Jade Gresham dribbled the ball across the goalmouth, where Caddy gathered and almost immediately threw it on the boot with his back to goal. The ball sailed directly over his head and split the sticks to tie the scores midway through the quarter.

BRISBANE     6.3       7.9       10.10    13.12 (90)
ESSENDON    1.1       4.1       9.4        11.6 (72)

GOALS
Brisbane: Lohmann 3, Morris 2, Wilmot, Rayner, Hipwood, Gardiner, Fletcher, Cameron, Ah Chee, Answerth
Essendon: Wright 2, Caddy 2, Martin 2, Setterfield, Gresham, Goldstein, Durham, Caldwell

BEST
Brisbane: McCluggage, Ashcroft, Berry, Lohmann, Fletcher, Neale
Essendon: Martin, Caldwell, Merrett, Roberts, Redman, Caddy

INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Essendon: Durham (ankle)

SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane: Deven Robertson (replaced Levi Ashcroft in the fourth quarter)
Essendon: Elijah Tsatas (replaced Zak Johnson in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 26,441 at the Gabba