The Brisbane Lions return to the field at Springfield’s Brighton Homes Arena this Wednesday night for their first match simulation of 2026. Following their 2025 premiership win against Geelong, the Lions are beginning a campaign to win a third straight title. For Carlton, the match serves as a starting point to move past a difficult 2025 season where the team struggled with form and internal pressure.
While this is an unofficial "hitout," the stakes involve testing new recruits and evaluating the fitness of key players returning from long-term injuries. With several star players absent due to representative duties or recovery schedules, both coaching staff are focused on depth rather than the final score. The match consists of four 30-minute quarters with no time-on, allowing for a faster pace and more rotations.
Preseason Match Conditions and Missing Players
The simulation features modified rules and specific roster choices. Most notably, Carlton is playing without several senior leaders and regular starters.
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"The squads for Wednesday's match simulation game have been announced… Young Blue returns, key Lions missing." — Official Team Reports
Brisbane Absentees: The Lions are managing several veteran players, including those recovering from the 2025 Grand Final run.
Carlton Absentees: Captain Patrick Cripps is missing due to Origin duties. Other missing players include Jacob Weitering, Nic Newman, and Nick Haynes.
Format: The game uses four quarters of 30 minutes each. Both teams are using "extended benches" to give younger players a chance to play.
The 2026 preseason marks a transition point for both clubs as they balance recent successes or failures against a new roster structure.
Roster Changes and Recovery Timelines
The Lions enter 2026 with a changed roster after several high-profile departures and retirements. The table below tracks the most significant personnel shifts since the end of the 2025 season.
| Category | Brisbane Lions (Incoming/Staying) | Brisbane Lions (Outgoing/Injured) |
|---|---|---|
| New Recruits | Sam Draper (from Essendon), Oscar Allen (from Eagles) | Brandon Starcevich (to Eagles), Deven Robertson (delisted) |
| Injuries | Keidean Coleman (returning), Lincoln McCarthy (returning) | Eric Hipwood (Knee - out for half of 2026) |
| Retirements | N/A | Oscar McInerney (Retired) |
The return of Keidean Coleman and Lincoln McCarthy is a primary focus for the Lions' medical team. Both players missed significant time during the 2025 season. The club must also address the loss of ruckman Oscar McInerney, with new signing Sam Draper expected to fill that role, despite a slightly delayed start to his own training program.
Historical Friction and the Umpire Incident
The relationship between these two clubs was tested in July 2025 during a match at Marvel Stadium. During that game, a collision between Carlton's Lachie Cowan and umpire Andrew Heffernan became a point of debate.
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The collision occurred inside Brisbane's forward 50-meter arc.
A kick from Nick Haynes was intercepted by Cam Rayner immediately after the contact.
This sequence led to a goal by Charlie Cameron, which increased the pressure on a struggling Carlton defense.
Michael Voss, the Carlton coach, was noted to be under significant pressure at the time as the team faced a "horror run" of losses.
What impact does this history have on the current preseason mindset? While it was a single moment in 2025, it served as a symbol of the "woes" Carlton faced while Brisbane continued its march toward a top-two finish and an eventual premiership.
Key Player Observations
Will Ashcroft remains the central figure for Brisbane. Having won his second Norm Smith Medal in the 2025 Grand Final, he is now joined by his brother, Levi Ashcroft. This creates a rare situation where two siblings, both high-level draft prospects, play in the same midfield.
Lachie Neale has stepped down as co-captain, which led to a "new-look leadership group" for 2026.
Harris Andrews continues to lead the defense, noting that the "last thing on his mind" is the pressure of a potential three-peat.
Charlie Curnow (Carlton) looks to find form after a difficult end to 2025 where he went several weeks without scoring a goal.
Professional Investigation Findings
Evidence from club reports and match data suggests a contrast in goals for this match simulation. Brisbane is focused on integrating "new-look" leadership and managing the recovery of elite talent like Keidean Coleman. Carlton is using the match to find reliable depth while their primary stars are unavailable.
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"The Lions know the hard work ahead of them as the club eyes another three-peat in 2026." — AFL Analysis
The investigation notes that Brisbane's success has come at a cost to their roster stability. The loss of Brandon Starcevich and the injury to Eric Hipwood create openings in the starting lineup that did not exist during the 2025 finals series. Does the addition of Oscar Allen and Sam Draper provide enough stability to offset these losses? This match simulation serves as the first data point for that inquiry.
Sources
Fox Sports: Lions vs Blues Preseason Live - Live updates and squad lists for the 2026 simulation.
AFL.com.au: Brisbane Lions Team News - Detailed list of trades, retirements (McInerney), and the 2025 Premiership recap.
ESPN: No Mercy from Lions as Carlton Woes Continue - Context on the 2025 match and the umpire collision incident.
Lions.com.au: Video Archive - Press conference records from Coach Chris Fagan regarding the 2025/2026 transition.
