Key points:

  • The Lions will play five Clubs twice in 2019; Gold Coast, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs.
  • Three games will be broadcasted on national free-to-air in 2019, compared to one in 2018.
  • It's all about Saturday nights at the Gabba next season with the Lions locking in eight home games on Saturdays.
  • The Lions will make ten interstate trips next season.
  • In 2019 the Lions' will make its first trip to Ballarat for an official AFL match.
  • Easter Thursday at the Gabba returns in 2019 when the Lions take on Collingwood. 

Where we're playing:

  • 11 games at the Gabba
  • 3 games at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
  • 2 game at the MCG, Melbourne
  • 1 game at UOT Stadium, Tasmania
  • 1 game at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
  • 1 game at Sydney Showground Stadium, Sydney
  • 1 game at Optus Stadium, Perth
  • 1 game at Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast
  • 1 game at Mars Stadium, Ballarat 

When we're playing: 

  • 1 game on Thursday
  • 14 games on Saturday
  • 6 games on Sunday

Television broadcasts:

  • 3 games on Channel 7 / 7Mate
  • 19 on Fox Footy

AFL Media's verdict on our fixture:

PROS: After just one national free-to-air game last season, getting three in 2019 is a big win for the Club, and particularly its sponsors. The Lions have eight games at home on Saturdays – when they draw the strongest crowds – and playing just one finalist from last season twice gives them a sporting chance to climb the ladder.

CONS: It's hard to complain when you've been in the bottom four for four straight years, but they would have loved more home matches against the big Victorian Clubs. There were also hopes of hosting a Friday night game, but the Lions will have to be satisfied with its one Thursday night offering against Collingwood.

BYE: Round 13

FIRST FOUR WEEKS: West Coast, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Essendon.

MAKE OR BREAK: Aside from the opening rounds, which shape every club's season, either side of the bye looms as crucial. From Round 10 on the Lions play Fremantle, Hawthorn, Carlton and St Kilda and have a chance to gain real momentum through that stretch.

BEAMS IN BRISBANE: Former skipper Dayne Beams returns to the Gabba in Round 5 when the Lions host Collingwood on Easter Thursday.

WE SAY: On the whole, it's a good draw.

The opening six rounds give the Lions a chance to measure their progress against both 2018 Grand Finalists and also notch wins against teams they figure to finish near on the ladder. The majority of home games on Saturdays and six games in Melbourne – including two rare visits to the MCG – are also pluses. Perhaps most importantly, four of the five teams they double up against missed the top eight last season.

There's no reason for the Lions to not climb the ladder in 2019. - Michael Whiting, AFL Media

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