<\/p>\n
While the Lions went one week deeper into the 2020 finals series than they had in 2019, they failed to qualify for their first grand final since 2004 when they were outmuscled by the Cats in a 40-point defeat at the Gabba.<\/p>\n
Brisbane's improvement on their 2019 campaign was spearheaded by prolific Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale, who became the first Lion to win the top gong since Simon Black in 2002.<\/p>\n
Dayne Zorko, Jarryd Lyons, Hugh McCluggage, Charlie Cameron and Oscar McInerney – who shouldered the ruck load in Stefan Martin's absence – were also exceptional.<\/p>\n
On the Friday night of round four at Adelaide Oval, Port Adelaide will be out to exact revenge against back-to-back premiers Richmond, who snuck home by six points in their grand-final qualifier at the same venue<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Power were an irresistible force in 2020 led by Brownlow Medal runner-up Travis Boak and skipper Tom Jonas, as well as Darcy Byrne-Jones, Zak Butters, Robbie Gray and Tom Rockcliff.<\/p>\n They got their near-faultless campaign underway with a comprehensive win over Gold Coast in round one and did not finish any round lower than first on the ladder.<\/p>\n Executive general manager of clubs and broadcasting Travis Auld said the opening six rounds would make for tremendous entertainment.<\/p>\n "The first six weeks looks as exciting as any recent season in memory," Auld said.<\/p>\n "We know supporters are looking forward to the return of the AFL season and there is much for fans to look forward to."<\/p>\n The 2021 season will also see Richmond and Geelong square off in grand-final rematches at the MCG in rounds eight and 19.<\/p>\n 2021 AFL FIXTURE<\/strong><\/p>\n All times AEDT<\/em><\/p>\n ROUND 1<\/strong><\/p>\n Thursday March 18<\/strong><\/p>\n Richmond v Carlton, MCG (7:25pm)<\/p>\n Friday March 19<\/strong><\/p>\n Collingwood v Western Bulldogs, MCG (7:50pm)<\/p>\n Saturday March 20<\/strong><\/p>\n Melbourne v Fremantle, MCG (1:45pm)<\/p>\n Adelaide Crows v Geelong Cats, Adelaide Oval (4:35pm)<\/p>\n Essendon v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium (7:25pm)<\/p>\n Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans, Gabba (7:45pm)<\/p>\n Sunday March 21<\/strong><\/p>\n North Melbourne v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium (1:10pm)<\/p>\n GWS Giants v St Kilda, Giants Stadium (3:20pm)<\/p>\n West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast Suns, Optus Stadium (6:10pm)<\/p>\n ROUND 2<\/strong><\/p>\n Thursday March 25<\/strong><\/p>\n Carlton v Collingwood, MCG (7:20pm)<\/p>\n Friday March 26<\/strong><\/p>\n Geelong Cats v Brisbane Lions, GMHBA Stadium (7:50pm)<\/p>\n Saturday March 27<\/strong><\/p>\n Sydney Swans v Adelaide Crows, SCG (1:45pm)<\/p>\n Port Adelaide v Essendon, Adelaide Oval (4:35pm)<\/p>\n St Kilda v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (7:25pm)<\/p>\n Gold Coast Suns v North Melbourne, Metricon Stadium (8:10pm)<\/p>\n Sunday March 28<\/strong><\/p>\n Hawthorn v Richmond, MCG (1:10pm)<\/p>\n Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (3:20pm)<\/p>\n Fremantle v GWS Giants, Optus Stadium (6:10pm)<\/p>\n ROUND 3<\/strong><\/p>\n Thursday April 1<\/strong><\/p>\n Brisbane Lions v Collingwood, Gabba (7:40pm)<\/p>\n Friday April 2<\/strong><\/p>\n North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (4:20pm)<\/p>\n Adelaide Crows v Gold Coast Suns, Adelaide Oval (7:50pm)<\/p>\n Saturday April 3<\/strong><\/p>\n Richmond v Sydney Swans, MCG (1:45pm)<\/p>\n Essendon v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium (4:35pm)<\/p>\n West Coast Eagles v Port Adelaide, Optus Stadium (8:10pm)<\/p>\n Sunday April 4<\/strong><\/p>\n Carlton v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium (3:20pm)<\/p>\n GWS Giants v Melbourne, Manuka Oval (6:10pm)<\/p>\n Monday April 5<\/strong><\/p>\n Geelong Cats v Hawthorn, MCG (3:20pm)<\/p>\n ROUND 4<\/strong><\/p>\n Thursday April 8<\/strong><\/p>\n Sydney Swans v Essendon, SCG (7:20pm)<\/p>\n Friday April 9<\/strong><\/p>\n Port Adelaide v Richmond, Adelaide Oval (7:50pm)<\/p>\n Saturday April 10<\/strong><\/p>\n Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions, Mars Stadium (1:45pm)<\/p>\n St Kilda v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (4:35pm)<\/p>\n Gold Coast Suns v Carlton, Metricon Stadium (7:25pm)<\/p>\n Collingwood v GWS Giants, MCG (7:25pm)<\/p>\n Sunday April 11<\/strong><\/p>\n North Melbourne v Adelaide Crows, Marvel Stadium (1:10pm)<\/p>\n Melbourne v Geelong Cats, MCG (3:20pm)<\/p>\n Fremantle v Hawthorn, Optus Stadium (4:40pm)<\/p>\n ROUND 5<\/strong><\/p>\n Thursday April 15<\/strong><\/p>\n St Kilda v Richmond, Marvel Stadium (7:20pm)<\/p>\n Friday April 16<\/strong><\/p>\n West Coast Eagles v Collingwood, Optus Stadium (8:10pm)<\/p>\n Saturday April 17<\/strong><\/p>\n Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (1:45pm)<\/p>\n Sydney Swans v GWS Giants, SCG (4:35pm)<\/p>\n Carlton v Port Adelaide, MCG (7:25pm)<\/p>\n Brisbane Lions v Essendon, Gabba (7:25pm)<\/p>\n Sunday April 18<\/strong><\/p>\n Adelaide Crows v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval (1:10pm)<\/p>\n Hawthorn v Melbourne, MCG (3:20pm)<\/p>\n Geelong Cats v North Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium (4:40pm)<\/p>\n ROUND 6<\/strong><\/p>\n Friday April 23<\/strong><\/p>\n GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs, Manuka Oval (7:50pm)<\/p>\n Saturday April 24<\/strong><\/p>\n Geelong Cats v West Coast Eagles, GMHBA Stadium (1:45pm)<\/p>\n Gold Coast Suns v Sydney Swans, Metricon Stadium (1:45pm)<\/p>\n Carlton v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium (4:35pm)<\/p>\n Melbourne v Richmond, MCG (7:25pm)<\/p>\n Fremantle v North Melbourne, Optus Stadium (8:10pm)<\/p>\n Sunday April 25<\/strong><\/p>\n Hawthorn v Adelaide Crows, UTAS Stadium (12:30pm)<\/p>\n Collingwood v Essendon, MCG (3:20pm)<\/p>\n Port Adelaide v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval (6:40pm)<\/p>\n ROUND 7<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Friday April 30 to Sunday May 2<\/strong><\/p>\n Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide, Gabba<\/p>\n Collingwood v Gold Coast Suns, MCG<\/p>\n Essendon v Carlton, MCG<\/p>\n North Melbourne v Melbourne, Blundstone Arena<\/p>\n Richmond v Western Bulldogs, MCG<\/p>\n St Kilda v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats, SCG<\/p>\n West Coast Eagles v Fremantle, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n ROUND 8<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Friday May 7 to Sunday May 9<\/strong><\/p>\n Fremantle v Brisbane Lions, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n Gold Coast Suns v St Kilda, Metricon Stadium<\/p>\n GWS Giants v Essendon, Giants Stadium<\/p>\n Hawthorn v West Coast Eagles, MCG<\/p>\n Melbourne v Sydney Swans, MCG<\/p>\n North Melbourne v Collingwood, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Port Adelaide v Adelaide Crows, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n Richmond v Geelong Cats, MCG<\/p>\n Western Bulldogs v Carlton, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n ROUND 9<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Friday May 14 to Sunday May 16<\/strong><\/p>\n Essendon v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions, Metricon Stadium<\/p>\n Hawthorn v North Melbourne, UTAS Stadium<\/p>\n Melbourne v Carlton, MCG<\/p>\n Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n Richmond v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n St Kilda v Geelong Cats, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Sydney Swans v Collingwood, SCG<\/p>\n West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n ROUND 10<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Friday May 21 to Sunday May 23<\/strong><\/p>\n Adelaide Crows v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n Brisbane Lions v Richmond, Gabba<\/p>\n Carlton v Hawthorn, MCG<\/p>\n Collingwood v Port Adelaide, MCG<\/p>\n Essendon v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Fremantle v Sydney Swans, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n Geelong Cats v Gold Coast Suns, GMHBA Stadium<\/p>\n GWS Giants v West Coast Eagles, Giants Stadium<\/p>\n Western Bulldogs v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n ROUND 11<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Friday May 28 to Sunday May 30<\/strong><\/p>\n Brisbane Lions v GWS Giants, Gabba<\/p>\n Collingwood v Geelong Cats, MCG<\/p>\n Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn, TIO Stadium<\/p>\n Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n Richmond v Adelaide Crows, MCG<\/p>\n St Kilda v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Sydney Swans v Carlton, SCG<\/p>\n West Coast Eagles v Essendon, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n ROUND 12<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Friday June 4 to Sunday June 6<\/strong><\/p>\n Adelaide Crows v Collingwood, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n Carlton v West Coast Eagles, MCG<\/p>\n Essendon v Richmond, MCG<\/p>\n Fremantle v Western Bulldogs, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n Melbourne v Brisbane Lions, TIO Traeger Park<\/p>\n St Kilda v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Byes:<\/strong> Geelong Cats, Gold Coast Suns, GWS Giants, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide<\/p>\n ROUND 13<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Thursday June 10 to Monday June 14<\/strong><\/p>\n Fremantle v Gold Coast Suns, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n Melbourne v Collingwood, MCG<\/p>\n North Melbourne v GWS Giants, Blundstone Arena<\/p>\n Port Adelaide v Geelong Cats, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n St Kilda v Adelaide Crows, Cazaly's Stadium<\/p>\n Sydney Swans v Hawthorn, SCG<\/p>\n Byes:<\/strong> Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Essendon, Richmond, West Coast Eagles, Western Bulldogs<\/p>\n ROUND 14<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Thursday June 17 to Sunday June 20<\/strong><\/p>\n Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs, GMHBA Stadium<\/p>\n Gold Coast Suns v Port Adelaide, Metricon Stadium<\/p>\n GWS Giants v Carlton, Giants Stadium<\/p>\n Hawthorn v Essendon, MCG<\/p>\n North Melbourne v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n West Coast Eagles v Richmond, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n Byes:<\/strong> Adelaide Crows, Collingwood, Fremantle, Melbourne, St Kilda, Sydney Swans<\/p>\n ROUND 15<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Thursday June 24 to Sunday June 27<\/strong><\/p>\n Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats, Gabba<\/p>\n Carlton v Adelaide Crows, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Collingwood v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Essendon v Melbourne, MCG<\/p>\n GWS Giants v Hawthorn, Giants Stadium<\/p>\n North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns, Blundstone Arena<\/p>\n Port Adelaide v Sydney Swans, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n Richmond v St Kilda, MCG<\/p>\n West Coast Eagles v Western Bulldogs, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n ROUND 16<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Thursday July 1 to Sunday July 4<\/strong><\/p>\n Adelaide Crows v Brisbane Lions, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n Collingwood v St Kilda, MCG<\/p>\n Fremantle v Carlton, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n Geelong Cats v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium<\/p>\n Gold Coast Suns v Richmond, Metricon Stadium<\/p>\n Hawthorn v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Melbourne v GWS Giants, MCG<\/p>\n Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles, SCG<\/p>\n Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n ROUND 17<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Friday July 9 to Sunday July 11<\/strong><\/p>\n Brisbane Lions v St Kilda, Gabba<\/p>\n Carlton v Geelong Cats, MCG<\/p>\n Essendon v Adelaide Crows, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns, Giants Stadium<\/p>\n Hawthorn v Fremantle, UTAS Stadium<\/p>\n Port Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n Richmond v Collingwood, MCG<\/p>\n West Coast Eagles v North Melbourne, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n ROUND 18<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Friday July 16 to Sunday July 18<\/strong><\/p>\n Adelaide Crows v West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n Collingwood v Carlton, MCG<\/p>\n Fremantle v Geelong Cats, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n Gold Coast Suns v Western Bulldogs, Metricon Stadium<\/p>\n GWS Giants v Sydney Swans, Giants Stadium<\/p>\n Melbourne v Hawthorn, MCG<\/p>\n North Melbourne v Essendon, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Richmond v Brisbane Lions, MCG<\/p>\n St Kilda v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n ROUND 19<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Friday July 23 to Sunday July 25<\/strong><\/p>\n Carlton v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Essendon v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Geelong Cats v Richmond, MCG<\/p>\n Gold Coast Suns v Melbourne, Metricon Stadium<\/p>\n Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions, MCG<\/p>\n Port Adelaide v Collingwood, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n Sydney Swans v Fremantle, SCG<\/p>\n West Coast Eagles v St Kilda, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows, Mars Stadium<\/p>\n ROUND 20<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Friday July 30 to Sunday August 1<\/strong><\/p>\n Adelaide Crows v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns, Gabba<\/p>\n Collingwood v West Coast Eagles, MCG<\/p>\n Essendon v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Fremantle v Richmond, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n GWS Giants v Port Adelaide, Manuka Oval<\/p>\n Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, MCG<\/p>\n North Melbourne v Geelong Cats, Blundstone Arena<\/p>\n St Kilda v Carlton, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n ROUND 21<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Friday August 6 to Sunday August 8<\/strong><\/p>\n Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n Brisbane Lions v Fremantle, Gabba<\/p>\n Carlton v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Geelong Cats v GWS Giants, GMHBA Stadium<\/p>\n Hawthorn v Collingwood, MCG<\/p>\n Richmond v North Melbourne, MCG<\/p>\n Sydney Swans v St Kilda, SCG<\/p>\n West Coast Eagles v Melbourne, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n Western Bulldogs v Essendon, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n ROUND 22<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Friday August 13 to Sunday August 15<\/strong><\/p>\n Collingwood v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Fremantle v West Coast Eagles, Optus Stadium<\/p>\n Geelong Cats v St Kilda, GMHBA Stadium<\/p>\n Gold Coast Suns v Essendon, Metricon Stadium<\/p>\n GWS Giants v Richmond, Giants Stadium<\/p>\n Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs, UTAS Stadium<\/p>\n Melbourne v Adelaide Crows, MCG<\/p>\n North Melbourne v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Port Adelaide v Carlton, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n ROUND 23<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and dates TBA<\/em><\/p>\n Friday August 20 to Sunday August 22<\/strong><\/p>\n Adelaide Crows v North Melbourne, Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n Brisbane Lions v West Coast Eagles, Gabba<\/p>\n Carlton v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Essendon v Collingwood, MCG<\/p>\n Geelong Cats v Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium<\/p>\n Richmond v Hawthorn, MCG<\/p>\n St Kilda v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns, SCG<\/p>\n Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/em><\/strong> clicking here!<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n