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Essendon vs Brisbane Lions, AFL Round 8 2026 - Expert Prediction

Essendon are 1-6 and wooden spoon-bound. Brisbane just dropped 127 on Adelaide. The Lions at -16.5 is the play.

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Essendon
Bombers
VS
AWAY
Brisbane Lions
Lions
Marvel Stadium · Melbourne Saturday, 2 May 2026 · 12:35pm AEST

Brisbane Lions will steamroll Essendon at Marvel Stadium. The Lions are flying at 5th on the ladder while the Bombers sit 17th with just one win, and the odds tell the story at $1.08 for Brisbane against $7.50 for Essendon.


Ladder & Market


TeamLadderRecordPctHead to Head
Essendon Bombers Home17th1W-6L73%$7.50
Brisbane Lions Away5th4W-3L119%$1.08

Recent Form


DateOpponentResultScore
Essendon Bombers
25 AprCollingwoodLEssendon 9.6 lt Collingwood 20.17
18 AprGold Coast (away)LGold Coast 119 def Essendon 110
11 AprMelbourneWEssendon 113 def Melbourne 68
Brisbane Lions
26 AprAdelaide (home)WBrisbane Lions 19.13 def Adelaide 11.9
19 AprMelbourne (away)LMelbourne 16.8 def Brisbane Lions 15.12
11 AprNorth MelbourneWNorth Melbourne 66 lt Brisbane Lions 92

Essendon Bombers Form Analysis


Essendon Bombers: Archer May (medial ligament injury left knee, extent unknown, in doubt) per team news 27 Apr 2026 ESPN; Nic Martin (knee, season-ending, out) Sporting News; Jordan Ridley (calf, 3-4 weeks, out).


Brisbane Lions Form Analysis


Brisbane are humming. Just yesterday 2026-04-26 home at the Gabba, Brisbane Lions 19.13 (127) def Adelaide 11.9 (75). Before that, 2026-04-19 away at MCG, close one: Melbourne 16.8 (104) def Brisbane Lions 15.12 (102). And 2026-04-11 Gather Round neutral at Barossa Park, North Melbourne 66 lost to Brisbane Lions 92. So 2-1 recent, 4-3 overall, 5th on ladder 119% ratio. They bounce back hard, smashed Adelaide after the Melbourne heartbreak. Lions ready to dominate.


Team News

Essendon Bombers
  • Archer May : Medial ligament injury (left knee): extent unknown, in doubt
  • Nic Martin : Knee: season-ending (out)
  • Jordan Ridley : Calf: 3-4 weeks (out)
Brisbane Lions
  • Eric Hipwood : Knee: mid-season return (out)
  • Dayne Zorko : Calf: 1-2 weeks (doubt/test)
  • Darcy Gardiner : Shoulder: 4-5 weeks (out)

Head to Head: Record not available; recent form is the better indicator.

The Take

Take Brisbane Lions to win and Brisbane -30.5. Lachie Neale 30+ disposals and Joe Daniher 4+ goals are the top player props.

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