The Lions are back from bye week ready for a bumper Saturday evening clash with Port Adelaide at the Gabba.

Who: Brisbane Lions vs Port Adelaide
Where: The Gabba
When: Saturday 5 July at 7:35pm (local).
Gates Open: 6:00pm, check your ticket for your entry gate.
Entry Conditions: Please read here

Weekly Notices

NAIDOC Week → With NAIDOC Week kicking off July 6th, our Lions will be wearing the 2025 Indigenous Guernsey this week. There will also be several activations in Lion Park for the whole family to enjoy.

Kids Go Free → Rounds 16 to 19, all kids aged 14 years old and under will get free access to 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership matches across Australia. Check the nominated ticket categories and find more information on how to redeem here.

Tickets 

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

AreaVIP → 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 → 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

Lion Park →  Located outside Gate 2 starting from 5:05pm.  The kids will enjoy face painting, bracelet making, hair braiding, a Disney photobooth, temporary tattoo station and bungy jumping! There will also be a Lions shop popup and much more to explore. Port fans, there will also be an away shop popup to secure supporters gear!

NAIDOC Week → Find Deadly Choices and other First Nation activations in Lion Park to explore. 

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 5:05pm 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 can be found in lower 7.

Round 17 Runsheet:

10:00am: Lions Shop Opens
5:05pm: Lions Park  
6:00pm: Public Gates
TBCpm: On-field Warmup
7:24pm: Lions run out
7:35pm: Bounce
QTR Time: Caltex Kick for StarCash
HALF Time: Auskick
3/4 Time: XXXX Handball Challenge - Nominate yourself now!
POST Game: Maccas Footballs giveaway, player interviews, Maccas Kick 2 Kick.

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 7 or stream on 7plus, Fox Footy or Kayo from 7:30pm.

LAST year Brisbane danced on thin ice following the mid-season bye, and this year it wants to re-establish the Gabba as a cauldron feared by opponents.

For so many seasons the Lions’ home ground was an almost guaranteed four premiership points, but the wheels have wobbled a touch in the past 18 months.

Following an unbeaten 2023 (13-0), Brisbane had an 8-4 record at the Gabba last year, while 2025 has proved even less fruitful to date with a 4-3 ledger.

Speaking on Tuesday morning following the mid-season break, Cam Rayner said the home record was something the Lions wanted to address in the back half of the year.

“We want to make the Gabba a really hard place to come to,” he said. “Since I’ve been at the footy club, it really has, and I want to get back to doing that.

“That just comes back down to the way we play and the mindset of being hunters there and taking it to teams.

“Hopefully we can get that going again this week.”

Brisbane hosts Port Adelaide on Saturday night; a team that hasn’t won there against Chris Fagan’s men since 2017.

“I feel like every team that comes to the Gabba wants to knock us off there, as we did when we were younger, we’d chase teams at their home ground and try to beat the teams near the top of the ladder,” Rayner said.

“Teams that come to the Gabba obviously set themselves for it and get really excited about the opportunity to try to beat us there, and I’m looking forward to flipping that script around.”

Rayner said Brisbane was happy with its first half of the season, sitting in second position with 10 wins and a draw from 15 matches.

It’s a stark contrast to last season’s bye where they sat in 13th place with just four wins from 11 matches, sparking Fagan’s now famous “if you’re walking on thin ice, you might as well dance” mantra that would drive his team to a premiership.

“There’s been some things that have worked really really well and some things we’d like to tidy up,” Rayner said.

“You’ve got to make sure you’re hitting form at the right time, and I feel like this group is building in the right direction at the moment.

“The game against Geelong was a good step forward and hopefully we can continue that on.”

Port Adelaide has slipped three wins outside the top eight and copped some costly injuries in a valiant 28-point loss to Brisbane on Saturday night.

The visitors lost bookends Dante Visentini and Esava Ratugolea in the first quarter at the Gabba, then in-form Sam Powell-Pepper left the game in the third term with a potentially serious left knee injury.

However, with just two fit men on the bench and the returning Ollie Wines deputising in the ruck, they found a way to stay in touch before losing 18.12 (120) to 14.8 (92) to the defending champions.

Victory kept Brisbane (11-4-1) in second place, while Port (7-9), with seven rounds to play, is running out of time to bridge the growing gap between it and the top eight. 

A seven-goal blitz after a slow start to the first quarter and three quick goals after Powell-Pepper's injury were enough for the hosts, who had come off the bye determined to improve their 4-3 Gabba record.

But it was the Power who started hotter, the 10th-placed side needing a scalp to climb the ladder.

Willie Rioli (three goals) and Mitch Georgiades (four goals) gave the visitors an early advantage, and Powell-Pepper had an immediate reply to Charlie Cameron's (three goals) first major.

The Lions flicked the switch though, aggressive running and clean finishing by Zac Bailey (five goals, two assists, 26 disposals) triggering a brilliant offensive flourish.

Tackle pressure lifted and the Lions, guilty of poor accuracy in recent losses, couldn't miss.

Eric Hipwood's goal on the siren made it seven consecutive majors, and Josh Dunkley put them 38 points clear with the first strike of the second term.

Port had lost Visentini (ankle) and Ratugolea (hamstring) to complete the first-quarter carnage, but they found a response with Jack Lukosius (three goals) ending the Lions' run on his return from a long-term knee injury.

Gold Coast recruit Lukosius bombed two more huge majors from outside 50 metres as Port continued to rally from as far back as 40 points.

And when Georgiades managed a fourth, the margin was only 16 with 12 minutes on the clock.

But Levi Ashcroft stubbed through a relieving major from close range that finally broke Port's back.

Jaspa Fletcher continued his fine season in Brisbane's defence, Hugh McCluggage had a goal and seven clearances in his 29 touches, Cameron led the forward-line defensive pressure, and Travis Boak (27) worked tirelessly for Port. 

Powell-Pepper played just three games last season before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in April. 

He looked in severe pain after falling in an attempt to change direction, then tried to run before heading for the rooms.

Lions go wild
Port Adelaide had the first two goals of the game on the board with Brisbane having barely touched the ball, and it looked like the visitors would be hard to stop. But there's a reason the Lions are reigning premiers. Midway through the opening quarter they had one goal, by the first break they had eight, a 32-point lead and effective control of the contest.

Esava wears his hamstring on his sleeve
Football fans can get a little emotional, but they often question whether the players they worship feel the same way about the colours they wear. On Saturday night Esava Ratugolea showed just how much it means to him. Lunging to spoil in the first quarter he injured his hamstring and was taken out of the game. On the sidelines he made it clear the emotional pain was greater than the physical, and if anyone is under the impression players just punch the clock and collect a paycheck, they better think again.

BRISBANE              8.4    9.8    14.10    18.12 (120) 
PORT ADELAIDE     3.2    6.5    10.6     14.8 (92)

GOALS
Brisbane: Bailey 5, Cameron 3, Neale, McCluggage, Lohmann, Hipwood, Fort, Dunkley, W.Ashcroft, Ah Chee, Morris, L.Ashcroft
Port Adelaide: Georgiades 4, Lukosius 3, Rioli 3, Powell-Pepper 2, Richards, Horne-Francis

BEST
Brisbane: Bailey, McCluggage, Neale, Zorko, Andrews, Rayner
Port Adelaide: Butters, Rozee, Lukosius, Georgiades, Powell-Pepper

INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Port Adelaide: Visentini (ankle), Ratugolea (hamstring), Powell-Pepper (knee)

SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane: Darcy Gardiner (replaced Sam Day in the fourth quarter)
Port Adelaide: Hugh Jackson (replaced Dante Visentini in the first quarter)

Crowd: TBC at the Gabba