The Brisbane Lions are back: See their first 2020 home game at the Gabba

March is one of the best times to be in Brisbane as the stifling heat of summer begins to fade into milder weather that generates pleasantly warm and sunny days with easing rainfall after the big dump of wet season. But most importantly, it marks the return of the AFL for yet another season of good old-fashioned footy at the Gabba as the Brisbane Lions stake their claim for their first premiership since 2003.

Brisbane Lions 2020 home fixtures

Brisbane will play a total of 11 games at the Gabba in the 2020 home and away season, with the potential for some home finals appearances should the Lions finish in a strong position on the ladder come September.

The side’s season opener is a tough clash against the reigning premiers down in Melbourne, which means their first home game on Saturday the 28th of March is fast approaching and could be an opportunity for the Lions to notch their first win should they fall short against Richmond in Round 1.

Their Round 2 match will see North Melbourne travel to the Gabba for a contest which, depending what we see in Round 1, Brisbane should head into as favourites. Head to the Lions website to buy tickets, view team announcements and score updates from Round 1.

Here’s the full schedule of games the Lions will play at the Gabba in 2020:

Round 2, Saturday 28 March @ 6:25pm – Brisbane vs. North Melbourne

Round 4, Thursday 9 April @ 7:35pm – Brisbane vs. Collingwood

Round 6, Saturday 25 April @ 7:25pm - Brisbane vs. Sydney

Round 8, Friday 8 May @ 7:50pm - Brisbane vs. Richmond

Round 10, Saturday 23 May @ 7:25pm - Brisbane vs. Gold Coast

Round 14, Friday 19 June @ 7:50pm - Brisbane vs. Melbourne

Round 15, Thursday 25 June @ 7:20pm - Brisbane vs. Hawthorn

Round 17, Saturday 11 July @ 7:25pm - Brisbane vs. Geelong

Round 19, Sunday 26 July @ 3:20pm - Brisbane vs. St Kilda

Round 21, Saturday 8 August @ 2:10pm - Brisbane vs. West Coast

Round 23, Friday 21 August @ TBC - Brisbane vs. Essendon

2019 recap: A season of resurgence ending in heartbreak

Chris Fagan’s third year at the helm of Brisbane proved it could be the start of something special. After seeing his side win the wooden spoon in 2017 and winning just ten games by the end of 2018, the 2019 AFL season proved to be a breakout year for Fagan and the Lions whose young talent kicked into gear and became a genuine contender in the competition. The young side topped the ladder at one point and finished second behind Geelong on percentage alone, securing their first finals appearance in a decade. Unfortunately for the players and fans, the fairytale stopped there. Their first final saw the Lions defeated comfortably by eventual premiers Richmond at the Gabba before being knocked out by eventual runners-up Greater Western Sydney by just three points. It was a heartbreaking end to the season for a side that had finally turned things around, but it left fans full of hope for what they could achieve in the near future.

Can the Lions make it count in 2020?

The 2019 season left few in doubt over the talent on Brisbane’s list and their ability to compete with the league’s best. While their disappointing results in September can arguably be attributed in part to a lack of finals experience, it’s a cloud that will inevitably hang over the team until they can prove they are a force to be reckoned with beyond the conclusion of the home and away season. But the club and its devoted fans will have plenty of self-belief after tasting success following a long finals drought, so you can expect to see the Lions come out firing in 2020 and maintain their status among the contenders hoping to knock Richmond off their perch.