Brandon Starcevich will play his first AFL game for the Brisbane Lions since Round 15, 2019 after the half back was named in Senior Coach Chris Fagan’s final 22-man side to take on Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday.

He will start on the interchange bench alongside Jarrod Berry, Lincoln McCarthy and Alex Witherden.

Deven Roberston, Ryan Lester, Connor Ballenden and Mitch Hinge (replacing Keidean Colman) have been named as emergencies.

The season opener will mark Starcevich’s sixth game for the Club since he was drafted with Pick No. 17 at the 2017 NAB AFL Draft. Much of his 2019 season was spent in the premiership winning NEAFL side.

In the 2020 off season and pre-season the 20-year-old was committed to his fitness and has noticeably bulked up while also cutting off 20 seconds from his previous 3km time trial personal best.

Fagan told media earlier this morning that the group have trained exceptionally well over the pre-season and are well prepared for their season opener.

“We’ve had a really good pre-season,” he said.

“Most of our guys have been able to complete 85% or more of it and have all had good match time over the last month.”

The game will mark Grant Birchall’s first match against this former club, the Hawks. Fagan credited his leadership and game knowledge away from the field the way he has shown his leadership and knowledge to his new team.

“And when he’s fit, he’s one of the best rebounding defenders going around,” Fagan said.

He said the players are prepared to play in front of an empty stadium with no spectators.

“We spent a bit of time talking to our group about what life might be like in the next little while,” he said.

“The last few days we’ve switched our attention to training and playing the game against Hawthorn on the weekend.”