We’re only one game into the 2026 season, and yet we’ve already seen a shock debut, a big-name injury scare, three MRO dramas, a high-quality blockbuster and a down to the wire heartbreaking loss.

It’s been almost an entire season’s worth of drama already! Not that we have much time to look back, though, with a red-hot Sydney awaiting, and a bunch of reinforcements needing to be called upon already.

This week on the Roar Deal, we talk through all the drama of the Bulldogs season opener along with the team changes that will be needed for this week’s trip to the SCG.

Also this week:

-The overwhelming response to the revamped club song

-The first Roar Deal Medal votes for 2026

-We go through your nickname suggestions for Cody Curtin

And much more!

This year, we are so grateful to be supported by Kartable - a trade procurement platform created by one of the Roar Deal family. For tasks or projects big or small, head to Kartable for your material or service needs. kartable.com.au/roardeal

Autumn is here, the Gabba goal posts are up, and it’s time to unfurl another flag.

On the last Saturday of September last year, a fourth quarter avalanche sealed the club’s fifth flag since the merger. This weekend, on the first Saturday of March, we begin the quest for our sixth.

And we have one of the biggest Roar Deal episodes of all time to launch season 2026.

Coming up on the podcast this week:

-We preview the massive season opener against the Bulldogs and the drama of our first team selection for 2026

-The club’s General Manager of Footy, Danny Daly, joins us to talk through injuries, selection dilemmas, and a sneaky question about Zac Bailey’s contract

-One of the best video editors in the country - Alex Cottier - the man behind last year’s AFL.com.au premiership documentary Pound The Rock - joins us ahead of this Wednesday night’s launch of 22 Days, the AFL website’s 2025 Premiership documentary

-The crystal ball makes its first appearance for 2026

-After months of work in the studios, we have the premiere of the revamped Brisbane Lions club song

And much more!

Plus, we are so excited to welcome Kartable on board as our new sponsor for the 2026 season!

Kartable is a trade procurement platform, effortlessly bringing vendor and trades together for material and service: engaging, planning & purchasing. There is a solution for you. Jump in and make your free profile today at kartable.com.au/roardeal - or reach out to James direct ([email protected]) to learn how Kartable can support your business.

After another summer spent basking, footy is just about upon us again. Next Saturday night (assuming no cyclones form between now and then), the Lions will unfurl the Premiership flag for the second consecutive year, before kicking off the 2026 AFL season against the Western Bulldogs.

We’ve had one dose of pre-season footy already in last week’s hit-out against Carlton, and there’s still one to come before the real stuff gets underway, with the Suns heading to Brighton Homes Arena for Thursday night’s fixture.

This week on the podcast:

-The club’s #1 ticket holder Dan Anstey joins us again

-Who will get the final wing spot for Opening Round?

-We’ve found some incredible Fitzroy audio from the archives

And much more!

In a very special edition of the Roar Deal, Ursula Fagan joins us in studio to share her story and her perspective on the rise of the Lions.

It began with a brief comment from Chris Fagan on a pre-season podcast for the AFL website. It’s ended with an all-out media war between two football clubs.

It’s a rivalry that hasn’t had much heat in it since Mal Michael and Chris Scott targeted an injured Nick Riewoldt in 2005, but courtesy of an interview by the Roar Deal’s own Michael Whiting, the tensions between Brisbane and St Kilda have boiled over in a big way.  

Today on the podcast, we’ll talk through the salary saga that has captivated the footy world with the man who found himself at the centre of it all.

And, with less than a month to go now until our Opening Round clash against the Bulldogs, we’ll also talk a bit more about the selection squeeze following last Friday’s intraclub out at Brighton Homes Arena.

Also this week:

-Will State of Origin work?

-An enormous update in Dom’s marathon mission

-How many captains will the Lions have in 2026?

And much more!

At the beginning of 2003, the second Lord Of The Rings Movie had just been released in cinemas, John Howard was Prime Minister, and Leigh Matthews’ Brisbane Lions side set out on their quest for a third successive premiership, hoping to become the first side since Melbourne 50 years earlier to complete the hat trick.

23 years later, as the 2026 AFL season draws near, we’re all hoping history might be about to repeat itself. Welcome to the Roar Deal as we kick things off for a new year, with the quest for an extraordinary and barely believable piece of history just about to begin.

This week on the show:

-Kiddy's peak fitness, Linc's positional shift and other pre-season reports

-Our 2026 season predictions

-Dom's doing the marathon

And much more!

Chris Fagan joins us at Brisbane Powerhouse on Friday November 28, 2025 to celebrate the 2025 Premiership.

After another unforgettable season, we sit together in the Roar Deal studios for the very last time in 2025 to review the highs, the lows, and all that is still to come.

It's been an emotional rollercoaster of a weekend to close out the Roar Deal's 2025, with the joy of Friday night's event with Chris Fagan quickly being replaced with disappointment after an emphatic AFLW Grand Final loss to North Melbourne.

Despite the sadness of that final chapter, 2025 has given us so much to remember. Before we sail off into the Christmas holidays, we take a moment to reflect on all that the ride has been.

Also this week:

-Recapping our backstage conversation with Chris & Ursula Fagan

-A look back at our 2025 pre-season predictions

-The path ahead for the Roar Deal into 2026

And much more!

Another season, another grand final - it seems to be the formula for the Lions at the moment, as the golden days continue. Following a dominant prelim final win over Carlton, the Lions women are into their fourth straight grand final, looking to make amends for last year’s loss and go 2-1 up in what is now a trilogy of North Melbourne/Brisbane deciders.

It’s about as tough an ask as there is in sports at the moment though, but this Lions group have been setting themselves for it for twelve months now, as they look to make 2025 the perfect year.

Also this week:

-Storms and spilt tea nearly derail the podcast

-The men’s draft is done with four new Lions joining the club

-Powerhouse week is here

And much more!

With seven years of finals, three grand finals, and two premierships, the Lions have been the most exciting and successful team of the 2020’s by far in every possible metric, setting attendance and ratings records across the country along the way too with their exciting and dynamic style of footy.

And now, with the release of the 2026 fixture, we get our reward: an 11:30am clash with the Saints, a trip out to the Barossa for another blockbuster against North Melbourne, and just the three prime time fixtures in the first chunk of the season, compared to the likes of Carlton who have seven.

This week on the Roar Deal, we’re trying to figure out what we’ve done to put the AFL’s fixturing department offside to such an enormous extent, while placing a bulk sunscreen order to get us through all of next year’s day games.

Also this week:

-We preview the massive AFLW Prelim Final against Carlton

-We’re only a couple of days away from the 2025 AFL Draft

-The Lions are now $1 million richer

And much more!