The Roar Deal

For the first time since September 27, we’re back on the winners list.The timeslot was odd and the rivalry was unconventional, so it probably shouldn’t be any great shock that the game itself was very weird too. At any rate, the 2026 campaign is now off and running, with a last quarter crusade showing the best of Brisbane and ensuring we can avoid the pain of a zero-three start.We have very little time to reflect, though, with the Collingwood clash rapidly approaching.The last two Easter Thursdays have been horrendous starts to the long weekend for all Lions fans, and with even more disruption in defence, it’s going to take a special effort to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself this week too.This week on the podcast:-How do we solve the latest round of problems in defence?  -A deep dive into our form at the Gabba-What will happen to the AFL if Australia runs out of fuel?And much more!Sponsored by Kartable. As material, freight and input prices rise, join the Kartable conversation. A likeminded community for trades, builders and suppliers to manage pricing, partnerships and solutions. Head to kartable.com.au/roardeal

The Brisbane Lions have had many great rivalries over the years - Essendon at the beginning of the early 2000’s dynasty, Collingwood in the years that followed, Port Adelaide after the pain of 2004, and then a run of sides in recent years: Richmond, Melbourne, Geelong, and, at long last, the Gold Coast too.And now, apparently, it’s time for St Kilda.This might just be one of the weirdest rivalries we’ve seen, but there does seem to be some genuine spice in it, following the long-running anti-Academy campaign from the Saints and the war of words over the summer.And this Saturday at Marvel Stadium, at the bright and early time of 12:35pm in Victoria, footy’s two new big rivals will go head-to-head, both needing a win after slow starts to the season.This week on the podcast:-Saints diehard Charlie Clausen joins us to preview footy’s newest rivalry-Which footy icon did Dom see on his Saturday run?-Chris Fagan’s influence on the Matilda’s matchAnd much more!Increase your purchasing power - join the Kartable tradie community at kartable.com.au/roardeal

It’s only the middle of March, but the panic is here.After a shocker in Sydney, the stakes are starting to feel heightened already.With another twenty-one games to go in a very long 2026 season, we can afford to lose no more than four of them if we want to finish in the top four.17-4 is a big ask in any circumstances, let alone when you’re the reigning premiers and have the entire competition breathing down your neck.Thankfully, the early season bye has given us a brief deep breath to take stock and reload, but the back-to-back premiership glow we’ve been enjoying over the summer is starting to feel like a distant memory.  This week on the podcast:-Is the Kiddy/Zorko backline combination working?-Behind the scenes of afl.com.au's Return of the Pride podcast-Dom's pitch for what Mike should do if the Lions complete the hat trickAnd much more!Increase your purchasing power - join the Kartable tradie community at kartable.com.au/roardeal

We’re only one game into the 2026 season, and yet we’ve already seen a shock debut, a big-name injury scare, three MRO dramas, a high-quality blockbuster and a down to the wire heartbreaking loss.It’s been almost an entire season’s worth of drama already! Not that we have much time to look back, though, with a red-hot Sydney awaiting, and a bunch of reinforcements needing to be called upon already.This week on the Roar Deal, we talk through all the drama of the Bulldogs season opener along with the team changes that will be needed for this week’s trip to the SCG.Also this week:-The overwhelming response to the revamped club song-The first Roar Deal Medal votes for 2026-We go through your nickname suggestions for Cody CurtinAnd much more!This year, we are so grateful to be supported by Kartable - a trade procurement platform created by one of the Roar Deal family. For tasks or projects big or small, head to Kartable for your material or service needs. kartable.com.au/roardeal

Autumn is here, the Gabba goal posts are up, and it’s time to unfurl another flag.On the last Saturday of September last year, a fourth quarter avalanche sealed the club’s fifth flag since the merger. This weekend, on the first Saturday of March, we begin the quest for our sixth.And we have one of the biggest Roar Deal episodes of all time to launch season 2026.Coming up on the podcast this week:-We preview the massive season opener against the Bulldogs and the drama of our first team selection for 2026-The club’s General Manager of Footy, Danny Daly, joins us to talk through injuries, selection dilemmas, and a sneaky question about Zac Bailey’s contract-One of the best video editors in the country - Alex Cottier - the man behind last year’s AFL.com.au premiership documentary Pound The Rock - joins us ahead of this Wednesday night’s launch of 22 Days, the AFL website’s 2025 Premiership documentary-The crystal ball makes its first appearance for 2026-After months of work in the studios, we have the premiere of the revamped Brisbane Lions club songAnd much more!Plus, we are so excited to welcome Kartable on board as our new sponsor for the 2026 season!Kartable is a trade procurement platform, effortlessly bringing vendor and trades together for material and service: engaging, planning & purchasing. There is a solution for you. Jump in and make your free profile today at kartable.com.au/roardeal - or reach out to James direct (james@kartable.com.au) to learn how Kartable can support your business.

After another summer spent basking, footy is just about upon us again. Next Saturday night (assuming no cyclones form between now and then), the Lions will unfurl the Premiership flag for the second consecutive year, before kicking off the 2026 AFL season against the Western Bulldogs.We’ve had one dose of pre-season footy already in last week’s hit-out against Carlton, and there’s still one to come before the real stuff gets underway, with the Suns heading to Brighton Homes Arena for Thursday night’s fixture.This week on the podcast:-The club’s #1 ticket holder Dan Anstey joins us again-Who will get the final wing spot for Opening Round?-We’ve found some incredible Fitzroy audio from the archivesAnd much more!

In a very special edition of the Roar Deal, Ursula Fagan joins us in studio to share her story and her perspective on the rise of the Lions.

It began with a brief comment from Chris Fagan on a pre-season podcast for the AFL website. It’s ended with an all-out media war between two football clubs.It’s a rivalry that hasn’t had much heat in it since Mal Michael and Chris Scott targeted an injured Nick Riewoldt in 2005, but courtesy of an interview by the Roar Deal’s own Michael Whiting, the tensions between Brisbane and St Kilda have boiled over in a big way.  Today on the podcast, we’ll talk through the salary saga that has captivated the footy world with the man who found himself at the centre of it all.And, with less than a month to go now until our Opening Round clash against the Bulldogs, we’ll also talk a bit more about the selection squeeze following last Friday’s intraclub out at Brighton Homes Arena.Also this week:-Will State of Origin work?-An enormous update in Dom’s marathon mission-How many captains will the Lions have in 2026?And much more!

At the beginning of 2003, the second Lord Of The Rings Movie had just been released in cinemas, John Howard was Prime Minister, and Leigh Matthews’ Brisbane Lions side set out on their quest for a third successive premiership, hoping to become the first side since Melbourne 50 years earlier to complete the hat trick.23 years later, as the 2026 AFL season draws near, we’re all hoping history might be about to repeat itself. Welcome to the Roar Deal as we kick things off for a new year, with the quest for an extraordinary and barely believable piece of history just about to begin.This week on the show:-Kiddy's peak fitness, Linc's positional shift and other pre-season reports-Our 2026 season predictions-Dom's doing the marathonAnd much more!

Chris Fagan joins us at Brisbane Powerhouse on Friday November 28, 2025 to celebrate the 2025 Premiership.

After another unforgettable season, we sit together in the Roar Deal studios for the very last time in 2025 to review the highs, the lows, and all that is still to come. It's been an emotional rollercoaster of a weekend to close out the Roar Deal's 2025, with the joy of Friday night's event with Chris Fagan quickly being replaced with disappointment after an emphatic AFLW Grand Final loss to North Melbourne.Despite the sadness of that final chapter, 2025 has given us so much to remember. Before we sail off into the Christmas holidays, we take a moment to reflect on all that the ride has been. Also this week:-Recapping our backstage conversation with Chris & Ursula Fagan-A look back at our 2025 pre-season predictions-The path ahead for the Roar Deal into 2026And much more!

Another season, another grand final - it seems to be the formula for the Lions at the moment, as the golden days continue. Following a dominant prelim final win over Carlton, the Lions women are into their fourth straight grand final, looking to make amends for last year’s loss and go 2-1 up in what is now a trilogy of North Melbourne/Brisbane deciders.It’s about as tough an ask as there is in sports at the moment though, but this Lions group have been setting themselves for it for twelve months now, as they look to make 2025 the perfect year.Also this week:-Storms and spilt tea nearly derail the podcast-The men’s draft is done with four new Lions joining the club-Powerhouse week is hereAnd much more!

With seven years of finals, three grand finals, and two premierships, the Lions have been the most exciting and successful team of the 2020’s by far in every possible metric, setting attendance and ratings records across the country along the way too with their exciting and dynamic style of footy.And now, with the release of the 2026 fixture, we get our reward: an 11:30am clash with the Saints, a trip out to the Barossa for another blockbuster against North Melbourne, and just the three prime time fixtures in the first chunk of the season, compared to the likes of Carlton who have seven.This week on the Roar Deal, we’re trying to figure out what we’ve done to put the AFL’s fixturing department offside to such an enormous extent, while placing a bulk sunscreen order to get us through all of next year’s day games.Also this week:-We preview the massive AFLW Prelim Final against Carlton-We’re only a couple of days away from the 2025 AFL Draft-The Lions are now $1 million richerAnd much more!

For the sixth season in a row, the Lions women are off to the prelim final after another strong away win over the Demons down in Melbourne. Remarkably, when combined with the men’s team, it means that the Lions have featured on prelim final weekend in the last nine consecutive seasons across both the AFL & AFLW.  The success keeps on flowing, with the ultimate glory now only two more wins away for the women, four of who also had the honour of being named in the AFLW All-Australian squad in the last week. Meanwhile, as we prepare for the men’s 2026 fixture to drop, the news is out about a September shake-up in the AFL. Wildcard round is here, but maybe not to the widespread acclaim the AFL had hoped for.Also this week:-Mike takes us inside the AFLW All Australian selection meeting-We explore the premiership journeys of Darcy Fort, Zac Bailey and Ryan Lester-How you can follow along with Dom’s running journeyAnd much more!

Two months ago, the men began their premiership challenge from third on the ladder. Now, the Lions women prepare to do exactly the same, with a strong - if inaccurate - win over Collingwood setting up a qualifying final clash against the Demons, with hopes of a November that ends with just as much joy as September did.It’s the ninth time in ten seasons that the Lions women have made the finals, hunting a fourth-straight grand final and a third premiership. Today on the Roar Deal, we’ll preview the massive clash against Melbourne, with the path to completing the year of dreams for Brisbane sporting teams now paved in front of us.Also this week:-Some more Irish blood with Gaelic star Ben Murphy joining the Lions -A big departure with Andrew Crowell leaving the club -We talk about Charlie Cameron, Darcy Gardiner and Harris Andrews as our 2025 Premiership team rundown continues And much more!

One month ago, a 15-minute patch of exhilarating football in the late third and early fourth quarters saw the Lions become the first non-Victorian side to go back-to-back since their own former selves in the early 2000s. And one month from now, the Roar Deal family will come together with Chris Fagan at Brisbane Powerhouse to keep the celebrations going.The countdown to our sold out night with Fages is on, with November 28 due to be a night we’ll never forget. The following day - November 29 - might prove to be something similar, with the AFLW grand final now looking a realistic target for the Lions, following a statement win over the Demons at Brighton Homes Arena.This week on the podcast:-Which Lions player is Craig Starcevich pushing Mike to include in the AA team?-Our player by player recap from the 2025 Premiership team continues-We discover that there's an Aussie Rules competition in FinlandAnd much more!

Like parents sitting by the resort pool who get told that their toddler’s had a toilet emergency at the kids club, our time of basking has been rudely interrupted by the Adelaide Crows and a trade period saga that we’re all still struggling to get our heads around. Cal Ah Chee now finds himself in limbo, Crows fans are furious, and all we want is to enjoy the glow of back-to-back premierships in peace.This week on the Roar Deal, we sit down to record following the end of the 2025 trade period, with the most heated trade saga the club has been involved in for many years emerging out of a surprise deadline day.Also this week:-What should Chris Fagan's Powerhouse walk-on song be this year? -Our one-by-one breakdown of the 2025 Premiership side continues -We preview a massive top-four AFLW clash against the DemonsAnd much more!

October used to be a month of desperately hoping for a big trade that could finally turn things around. That all feels a few lifetimes ago now, though, with October becoming the month of joy and celebration.It’s been two weeks since the Lions went back to back, and the party is continuing here in the Roar Deal studios. Today on the podcast, we’re going to start our player-by-player rundown from the 2025 Premiership side, recounting our favourite memories from their seasons and their big moments on Grand Final day.Also this week: -The Lions move into the top 4 in the AFLW-All the ticket information for our return to the Powerhouse with Fages-Who should Mike's new favourite player be?And much more!

Just over a week ago, the final siren sounded on the 2025 AFL Grand Final, cementing the legacy of this current Brisbane Lions group, their coach, and the club as a whole, as the Lions became the first side to 5 premierships in the 21st century. Following that perfect Saturday afternoon, it’s been a week full of replays and joy, as we all come to terms with an achievement that was beyond comprehension not that long ago.This week on the Roar Deal, as we return to the Coorparoo studios for the first time since the 2025 flag was won, it’s time to begin another few months of basking in the golden light of back-to-back premierships.Also this week:-We’re headed back to the Powerhouse with Chris Fagan next month!-The latest on the player movement space-Dom’s marathon journey beginsAnd much more!

Welcome back to the promised land.In one of the most remarkable Grand Final performances in recent history, the Lions have taken down perennial heavyweights Geelong in 24-minute blitz to go back to back and stamp their mark as a generational team. In this special in-depth podcast recorded in Mike’s hotel room the day after the 2025 Premiership was won, we recount our experiences of a Grand Final day we will never forget. Also this week:-Why Fages wanted to borrow Mike’s pants -Dom’s moment with Joe Daniher’s parents  -The marathon preparation begins And much more!