We started 2026 with a dream burning bright. After the extraordinary joy of back to back flags, hopes were high that we might just be on the cusp of seeing another three peat.

It was a dream that took some heavy hits in the first half of the year. A steady stream of injuries, stars down on form, and a third quarter against GWS that some of us are still having nightmares about dented our belief.

Thankfully, wins over the Suns & Tigers did enough to steady the ship, giving us a chance to enter the bye with the dream still alive. 

Now, as we enter the second half of the season, there’s very little margin for error left. 

The task is clear: from here on out, we need to see the best of Brisbane, and we need to see it pretty much weekly, or 2026 could slip away from us quickly.

Also this week:

-How do the Lions navigate the next stage of their list strategy?

-Dom's finally been convinced by Freo

-What we think the AFL needs to do to stay competitive with the NRL

And much more!

The Roar Deal is brought to you by Kartable. Planning for later or needing now? Streamlined pricing and procurement for all of your trade materials, supporting services & site deliveries. 

It’s been a bit bumpy, it’s been a bit tough, and it’s had one or two existential crises in it - in other words, a pretty customary first half of the season by the Brisbane Lions.

And now, as we get the long-awaited reprieve from the weekly rollercoaster of footy with this weekend’s bye, we’re taking stock of season 2026 following our eighth win for the year against the Tigers, leaving us sitting in seventh spot as we turn for home.

At some stages this season, 8-6 at the bye would’ve seemed a disaster - at other times, it might’ve seemed like a miracle - what we’re hoping, though, is that it might end up being the platform we need for a tilt at the threepeat dream.

Also this week:

-Should the AFL change its timings for the World Cup?

-Twenty minutes of trade talk

-The crystal ball’s greatest ever prediction

And much more!

We are here thanks to Kartable - Planning for later or needing now? Streamlined pricing and procurement for all of your trade materials, supporting services & site deliveries. 

Just when things looked to be fading away, the Lions we know and love returned with a statement backs-against-the-wall win to breathe life into the hat trick campaign.

It was Brisbane at our best from the start of the game, with the confidence and camaraderie back in full force for a win we so desperately needed.

A win over the Suns proved our turning point in 2024, and again in the semi-final last year - now, with the bye nearly in sight, we’re hoping this might prove the launching pad for another surge to September.

Also, the marathon is done! A story that began last July reached its culmination in the Botanical Gardens late on Sunday morning, with Mike Whiting joining Chris Fagan in the supercoach realm of taking on a basket case and turning things around.

We’ve got the full rundown from the Victory Lap, with a gloomy month behind us and joy on the agenda on all fronts.

Also this week:

-Where does Eric come back into the side?

-Our horrific record against Richmond

-Dom's scheme to turn Logan off the idea of Tasmania

And much more!

We are here always thanks to Kartable. Planning for later or needing now? From ‘Sourcing to Site’, for all of your trade materials and supporting services, send us what you need and when. We take care of the rest. Action via the platform or Kartable on Whatsapp.

Winter is here, and while the skies in Brisbane are blue, the forecast on a football front is starting to look bleak.  As June begins, all Lions fans are trying to process a third consecutive loss that has a few too many hallmarks of a great side beginning its slide.

Many of those who’ve been on the journey a while now say that similarities to 2005 are starting to appear, with the sense of an ending growing stronger with every loss.  And yet, the optimistic spin is that the season is still very much alive, the list is very much still talented enough, and this Lions group thrive on this kind of adversity.

Welcome to the Roar Deal, and as we sit here at the halfway mark of the season, things are very delicately poised. We may not be in the abyss just yet, but we are certainly leaning over and taking a good look in.  

Also this week:

-David King has written us off at last  

-Our thoughts on the James Hird story

-Dom’s marathon week is here at last

And much more!

In the good weeks and the bad weeks, we are here always thanks to Kartable - Planning for later or needing now? From ‘Sourcing to Site’, for all of your trade materials and supporting services, send them what you need and when. They will take care of the rest. Action via the platform or Kartable on Whatsapp.

The last time we went to Engie Stadium, we left with a historic match full of memories we’ll never forget. This time, the same thing has happened again - but for all the wrong reasons.

Amidst a resoundingly successful era under Chris Fagan, there has been a scattering of very dark days amidst all the joy. Round 1 against Port Adelaide in 2023 comes to mind, as does ANZAC Day against the Giants in 2024, as well as the Carrara QClash last year.

What unfolded in Homebush on Sunday afternoon, though, takes the cake as the worst of the lot of them.

After two remarkable premiership seasons, it was always going to take something drastic for the footy media to consider writing the Lions off in season 2026. And something drastic is exactly what we’ve just seen.

Now, we’ve got to try to make sense of this disaster and pick up the pieces, ahead of the table-topping Dockers making their way to Brisbane looking to land a knockout blow to our threepeat hopes.

Also this week:

-The extraordinary legacy of Neale Daniher

-Was Scott Pendlebury’s record-breaking game poorly handled?

-Dom’s injury scare two weeks out from the marathon

And much more!

The Roar Deal is sponsored by Kartable. Planning for later or needing now? From ‘Sourcing to Site’, for all of your trade materials and supporting services, send us what you need and when. We take care of the rest. Email [email protected] or head to Kartable.com.au to give it a try!

Round 10 in 2025 saw a frustrating and unexpected loss to the Demons at the Gabba, leading many to question the hunger and application of the reigning premiers. This week, history has rhymed, with Round 10 2026 leading us to feel a range of similarly flat emotions.  

Amidst a wet and worrying Thursday night at the Gabba, a dominant Geelong win has given us our greatest concerns for the season so far. With a range of stars still a long way from their best, defensive intent seemingly waning, and the top four starting to move further away, there are plenty of concerns amongst the Lions faithful this week.

If we need a bit of hope, though, the location of our next match might just help us find it.

All Lions fans felt about as bleak as it gets midway through the third quarter of our last trip to Engie Stadium, and now, as we prepare to head back to the Giants home ground for the first time since the Homebush Heist, we’re hoping we might leave feeling similarly uplifted.

Also this week:

-A deep dive into the stats behind our poor form

-Reminiscing on the Homebush Heist  

-Dom shares his hatred of Freo & Wharfie Time

And much more!

The Roar Deal is here, as always, for Kartable. Planning for later or needing now? From ‘Sourcing to Site’, for all of your trade materials and supporting services, send us what you need and when. We take care of the rest.

Email [email protected] or head to Kartable.com.au to give it a try

We all knew Carlton had one good half of footy in them - I just don’t think any of us expected it to be the second half! After a scratchy finish at the Gabba, we’re just glad to have banked the four points, recovering from a bumpy 0-2 start to the year to make it to 6 and 3 as the fixture starts to get a little trickier.

The table-topping Dockers, the always-tricky Giants and Damien Hardwick’s annoying Suns all lie ahead in the next month of footy, but before we get there, it’s time for the Grand Final Rematch.

Brisbane and Geelong are the two greatest sides of the decade so far, with so many classics amongst our last few years of matchups. And the week ahead gives us the chance all over again to enjoy memories like Cam’s prelim goal on the left, the third quarter goal that sealed Lachie’s miraculous resurrection, and the final siren at the MCG last year that sealed our place as one of footy’s great sides.

Also this week:

-Maybe our favourite Joe Daniher story yet

-Should Ty come back in up forward or down back?

-Our thoughts on who Brisbane’s biggest competitor for the flag is this year

And much more!

As we enter the Grand Final rematch week, the Roar Deal is brought to you as always by the brilliant team at Kartable - Kartable Cartage now means you don't have to leave site to collect your parts. Have Kartable collect your order to save you costly time leaving your job site. You can book via the platform, email or text message.

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For the first time in a very long time, the Lions went into a match against a struggling opponent that they should have beaten comfortably without any struggles, and actually ended up doing just that.

It was a stress-free day of enjoyable footy in our third go at footy’s new primetime slot of 12:30pm for the year - well, at least, it was stress-free, until a rogue Auskick dad’s photo blew up to become the greatest scandal the game has ever seen.

It’s Monday May the 4th as we sit down to record, and more 48 hours on from the Bombers game, we’re still talking about a whiteboard.

Thankfully, our first Friday night game for the year is fast approaching, meaning something more interesting to talk about is on the horizon.

Also this week:

-The new Victory Lap merch range is now on sale

-Zac Bailey’s update on his playing future  

-Could this be Michael Voss’s last week as coach?

And much more!

The Roar Deal is brought to you by the team at Kartable - Kartable Cartage now means you don't have to leave site to collect your parts. Have Kartable collect your order to save you costly time leaving your job site". Book via the platform, email or text message, or go to kartable.com.au/roardeal

Two years ago, it was the ANZAC Round that had us just about giving up hope of ever seeing this Lions group holding up a flag.

This year, ANZAC Round was an emphatic reminder of why these Lions have gone on to win the last two of them.

On Sunday, the clouds parted and the blue sky returned in Brisbane.

The same thing happened for the Lions, with last week’s loss against the Demons now a distant memory after a dominant win over the Crows.

Also this week:

-Dom’s emotionally preparing himself for Zac to leave

-Should Canberra have an AFL side?

-Big news about the Victory Lap marathon

And much more!

The Roar Deal is sponsored by Kartable - Kartable Cartage now means you don't have to leave site to collect your parts. Have Kartable collect your order to save you costly time leaving your job site. Book via the platform, email or text message - kartable.com.au/roardeal