Missing star leaves a big hole

FOR the first time in his Brisbane career, Jarryd Lyons won’t have fellow midfield star Lachie Neale alongside him when the Lions host Port Adelaide at the Gabba tonight.

The pair, who both joined the Lions in 2019, were scheduled this weekend to celebrate 50 AFL matches each for Brisbane.

However, an ankle injury suffered by Brownlow medallist Neale in the Lions’ 18-point win over Carlton last Saturday at Marvel Stadium means it will only be Lyons achieving his half-century Brisbane milestone against the Power.

“It’s like a little break-up,” Lyons said.

“We’re going to miss him (Neale) out there. It’s going to be different out there having one less leader in that midfield. He’s been great to bounce ideas off together rolling through there.

“(But) it just means blokes like ‘Zorks’ (captain Dayne Zorko) and Zac Bailey are going to come through there a bit more regularly and step up.”

The Power’s pace in their forward line has led to the Lions giving an AFL debut to speedy Irishman James Madden (above), who replaces injured defender Darcy Gardiner (concussion).

Madden caught the eye of Lions’ recruiting staff when he broke the all-time AFL Draft Combine 20m sprint record at the 2017 European Combine.

SAM Powell-Pepper will replace the injured Travis Boak for his first game of the season, with Port Adelaide’s change in game style meaning Tom Rockliff will continue to bide his time in the SANFL.

After spending a month away from the club to focus on his wellbeing, Powell-Pepper’s strong form in the SANFL has earnt him the spot.

Boak was ruled out to rest a minor quadricep issue the star midfielder has been battling over the past couple of weeks.

Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley said the way Powell-Pepper had returned to the club was a credit to him.

“For Sam it was about getting himself in a good physical and mental health state,” Hinkley said.