Brisbane Lions 2025 draftee Dan Annable headlines several changes as the team travels to Sydney for their Round 1 clash against the Swans.
Annable is joined by key off-season recruit Sam Draper, as the pair both prepare for their first outing in Lions colours at AFL level.
Draper joined the club during last year’s trade period, while Youi Lions Academy graduate Annable was drafted with pick 6 at the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft.
Forward Lincoln McCarthy and premiership defender Noah Answerth are also included this week as they make their return from long-term injuries.
McCarthy will play his first game since Round 8, 2024 following two ACL injuries which kept him out of the majority of the 2024 season and the entirety of 2025.
Strong performances through the pre-season have seen the 32-year-old earn his way back into the AFL side.
Answerth, who injured his Achillies in Round 18 last season and missed the Lions 2025 Premiership triumph, has played strongly in pre-season practice matches to be picked.
James Tunstill has also been selected in coach Chris Fagan’s side, with the 22-year-old rewarded after strong form in the VFL through the pre-season and last season.
Tunstill joins Annable, McCarthy, Answerth and Bruce Reville on the interchange bench.
Sam Marshall, Reece Torrent and Darragh Joyce have been named as the emergencies.
Harris Andrews, Zac Bailey and Darcy Gardiner are all unavailable through suspension, while Hugh McCluggage and forward Logan Morris miss through injury.
McCluggage has a low-grade calf strain which occurred against the Bulldogs, while Morris has been managing a small fracture in his hand.
Morris, who played against the Bulldogs last weekend, underwent scans on Tuesday after experiencing pain following the match.
The Lions have the bye next week and expect Morris to only miss Saturday night’s game and play in their Round 3 clash against St Kilda.
