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Hardest draw in history: Why Simpson is backing in Brisbane
Jaiden Sciberras • July 31st, 2025 2:15 pm
The reigning premiers certainly haven’t had it easy, and with four weeks to play, it’s anyone’s guess as to where the Brisbane Lions will land in 2025.
As it stands, the Lions sit half a game clear in third place, winning 13 and drawing one of their 19 games thus far. That being said, Chris Fagan’s men also carry the lowest percentage of all top nine teams.
In Round 20, Brisbane was beaten far too comfortably in the Q-Clash, with the Suns claiming a ruthless 11-goal victory to see the Lions fall out of the top two.
And it doesn’t get any easier for the 2024 premiers, with Collingwood at the MCG, Sydney, Fremantle at Optus Stadium and Hawthorn still to play.
With a 10-point gap on the ninth placed Western Bulldogs, the Lions should be safe from falling below the cut off, however given their difficult run home, the club remains every chance of falling out of the top four.
Despite their tricky run and their poor Round 20 showing, former West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson still maintains belief that the Lions can find success late into the season.
“I’m still backing in Brisbane,” Simpson told SEN’s Whateley.
“I think they’ve had the hardest draw almost in history, which is a big call to make.
“They’ve played top eight sides plus Gold Coast twice, I think they’ve played five of the top eight sides twice, so there’s 10 games, and their draw in the next four weeks is as hard as they’ve ever had.
“There’s an honesty piece with Brisbane that I really like. There is no easy draw, there’s no coming from ninth.”
Following their 2024 triumph, the Lions have been dealt an incredibly difficult fixture, facing all of Collingwood, Sydney, the Western Bulldogs, Geelong and Hawthorn twice, while also drawing Adelaide and Fremantle away from home – GWS being the only top nine side that Brisbane hosted in a solo contest.
The Lions have played 10 of their 13 clashes against top nine sides, winning six.
“When you win a premiership, this is why it’s hard to back it up,” Simpson continued.
“Because you’ve played the top six twice, and if your local rival happens to have come from nowhere as well…
“I think what Chris (Fagan) is doing and what Brisbane have done has been a real positive.
“I think they’ll play finals, they might not win the flag but if they do it, it would be one of the better achievements that I’ve seen.”
The Lions have a major test on their hands in Round 21, with a Saturday night blockbuster against ladder-leaders Collingwood at the MCG.
