Sydney vs Brisbane Lions Preview & Prediction | 2026 AFL | Regular Season | Qualifying Final
by Trystan Pugh ·
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Second-placed Sydney take on third-placed Brisbane Lions at the Sydney Cricket Ground as both sides begin their Finals journey.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – Some matches are televised on Fox Sports channels
How to watch online: UK – HBO Max & Watch AFL / USA – Watch AFL
The prediction
This Qualifying Final is an intriguing matchup between two sides who ended the season strongly and who finished next to each other in the table - Sydney in second and Brisbane Lions in third.
Sydney won their last five games of the regular season and easily made the Finals series after missing out last year, while the Lions are still in with a chance of winning three straight AFL titles.
The Swans are weakened somewhat by the absence of some key players here though, with the likes of Isaac Heeney and Riley Bice among five players missing out through a club suspension.
Despite their impressive late-season form, Sydney were generally underwhelming against the top sides throughout the regular season, and there is a sense that they will come undone here against a Lions side who have a knack for getting it done in the Finals series.
Despite finishing behind the Swans in the table, we're backing the clutch Lions to progress against a Swans outfit whose absences will surely hurt them.
Sydney vs Brisbane Lions tip: Brisbane Lions to win
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