Live: Lions, Swans start round 16 with a bang at the Gabba

ABC News

SportsABC News·Jun 25, 2026·7 min read

Live: Lions, Swans start round 16 with a bang at the Gabba

The defending champions, Brisbane, face a tough task at home against the Swans, who get two key players back for the clash at the Gabba.

The Lions are in eighth spot and will not want to lose and fall further behind the automatic finals places.

But second-placed Sydney gets a personnel boost, with the return of star midfielder Errol Gulden and key defender Tom McCartin.

Follow all the action in our live blog.

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Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:51pm

AFL Thursday Scoreboard

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Key Events

Lions vs Swans

Highlights

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:48pm

HT stats

By Andrew McGarry

Inside 50s: 32-25 Brisbane

Clearances: 22-17 Brisbane

Centre clearances: 7-7

Contested possessions: 74-71 Brisbane

Uncontested possessions: 102-94 Brisbane

Marks inside 50: 6-5 Brisbane

Tackles: 30-28 Sydney

The big key to that quarter was the Lions reverting to their normal modus operandi. The uncontested possessions count went from +10 to the Swans in the first term to +8 to the Lions by half-time.

Brisbane are controlling the ball, and the Swans are making enough errors to give the Lions a big lead at the half.

Memno to Sydney: don't give the two-time defending champions an even break, and definitely don't gift them easy goals.

Key Event

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:42pm

HT: Brisbane 8.7 (55) leads Sydney 4.4 (28)

By Andrew McGarry

The siren sounds, and the Lions are in control at the Gabba, but you have to say - it could have been a lot worse for Sydney!

Brisbane kicked 4.6 to Sydney's 2.1 in that term, and the lead sits at 27 points at the long break.

The Swans will have to press reset on all that in the rooms at half-time.

They can't allow the Lions to dominate like this, or the likes of Logan Morris, Eric Hipwood and the Ashcrofts will cut the visitors up in the second half.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:39pm

Bad error hands gift of a goal to Brisbane

By Andrew McGarry

If it isn't goal for goal, it must be error-for-error!

Riley Bice will not want to watch the replay, as he pushes a kick straight to Levi Ashcroft, who marks within kicking distance.

Ashcroft does the business, and the Lions extend again, as Dean Cox puts his head in his hands in the Sydney box.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:36pm

Curnow kicks vital goal for the Swans

By Andrew McGarry

The Swans have been right under the pump for most of this quarter and were being played out of the game.

But little moments can change a game.

A poor switch of play by the Lions was cut off by Charlie Curnow, and the former Blues keeps his composure and drills the set shot.

That is a very important goal for Sydney!

The lead is back to 21, in time on in the second quarter.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:26pm

Another goal as Lions unstoppable inside 50

By Andrew McGarry

This is getting out of hand here for Sydney.

The Lions are winning everything, and they are finding targets around or inside 50.

Zac Bailey is the one this time, and after a bit of to and fro with the Swans and the umpire, he takes the set shot - and drills it!

The lead is 27 points, and the Swans need to answer RIGHT NOW.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:22pm

Logan Morris does it again as Brisbane kicks clear

By Andrew McGarry

Brisbane has steadied here at the Gabba in the second term.

The Swans started strongly in the middle, but the Lions are taking control here.

Logan Morris gets the ball in the right forward pocket, and he slots it for Brisbane! Alarm bells for Sydney, the lead is out to 19 points.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:16pm

Eric Hipwood answers for Brisbane!

By Andrew McGarry

That was an interesting forward entry for Brisbane, a shot from the left forward pocket sprayed right and looked set to go out on the full.

But Eric Hipwood came from nowhere to mark on the stretch deep in the opposite pocket.

And Hipwood kicks one from a difficult angle! Lions back to 10 points.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:13pm

Charlie Curnow kicks an important goal for Sydney

By Andrew McGarry

The second quarter has been going for a few minutes, and the Swans have been pushing hard at the centre clearances.

The Lions defence have been under pressure, and Sydney has found Charlie Curnow in the right forward pocket.

Can he convert? He can! The Swans close within four points early in the second.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:09pm

QT stats

By Andrew McGarry

Inside 50s: 17-13 Sydney

Clearances: 12-9 Brisbane

Centre clearances: 4-3 Sydney

Contested possessions: 35-34 Sydney

Uncontested possessions: 58-48 Sydney

Marks inside 50: 2-2

Tackles: 17-14 Sydney

Key Event

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:06pm

QT: Brisbane 4.1 (25) leads Sydney 2.3 (15)

By Andrew McGarry

James Rowbottom kicked a late goal for Sydney, but a scrappy final 30 seconds ends with time running out.

The Swans would be happy enough to have got that margin back to 10 points, as the Lions have been the better team so far.

The options up forward for Brisbane are much more dangerous, and Sydney's big men have not been near it so far.

It might be a night for the old crew of Heeney, Warner and Gulden to kick some goals.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:02pm

Lions answer through Jarrod Berry

By Andrew McGarry

Anything you can do, we can do better, say the Lions...

They get their clearance and switch to the right wing.

Logan Morris leads up and takes the mark, then goes inside 50 to Jarrod Berry, who makes up for his dropped mark, taking the grab and kicking Brisbane's fourth goal of the night.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:59pm

Swans on the board with goal from Chad Warner

By Andrew McGarry

The Swans raised the pressure just then, forcing a dropped mark from Jarrod Berry. Sydney swooped, and Chad Warner kicked a low burner of a shot through from the edge of 50.

Sydney get their first goal, and it's back to 10 points!

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:57pm

Lions kick clear with goal to Logan Morris

By Andrew McGarry

This is a strong start from Brisbane!

The Lions are getting the openings here, and they're taking them.

A mark to Logan Morris inside 50 (a warning sign for Sydney right there) and the Lions young gun kicks his first!

The Lions lead by 16 points close to quarter time.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:55pm

Tough start for Sydney

By Andrew McGarry

The Swans are getting frustrated here.

They just tried the same move as earlier, switching from the right side of 50 to the left.

It didn't work for Errol Gulden, but Isaac Heeney finds Sam Wicks.

Wicks thumps a kick from 50, but again it drifts wide.

It's 2.0 to 0.3.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:53pm

A miss from Sydney

By Andrew McGarry

A bit better there from Sydney, they get clear and a quick kick away to Caiden Cleary inside 50.

He marks, but the kick drifts to the left, and the Swans are still waiting for their first major near time on in the opening quarter.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:50pm

Brisbane gets back-to-back goals

By Andrew McGarry

This game was such an arm-wrestle for half the quarter, it's not surprising that once one goal was kicked, another followed soon after.

Better transition there from Brisbane, and a kick from deep in the pocket to the square, it comes off hands and Cam Rayner burst through and kicks it!

Two goals to nothing for the Lions.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:47pm

Finally Brisbane gets the first goal through Charlie Cameron

By Andrew McGarry

Ok, there it is!

The Lions break free, and Irishman Conor McKenna (who has been solid down the wings so far), hits up Charlie Cameron in the right forward pocket.

And Charlie kicks it!

Country Roads kicks off in the stands, and the Lions are away!

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:45pm

No one making the break here

By Andrew McGarry

There's still no goals nearly halfway through the opening term.

Both teams are feeling each other out here, there are plenty of tough tackles going in, and not much time on the ball.

James Jordon just hacked the Swans inside 50 only for the ball to be intercepted near the goal line.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:42pm

Swans going chip-mark style early

By Andrew McGarry

The Lions are winning the clearances so far, but Sydney are chipping it around as we said.

They have 18 marks to Brisbane's four, and 37 uncontested possessions to 16 for the Lions.

View original source — ABC News ↗

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Live: Lions, Swans start round 16 with a bang at the Gabba

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