The Lions have sacrificed a midfielder to bring forward-turned-defender Ty Gallop straight back into their line-up following a three-game suspension.

First-year player Daniel Annable, who has played in Brisbane’s past two games, both of which the Lions have won, has been dropped for Friday night’s battle with Collingwood at the MCG to make room for premiership winner Gallop.

Lions coach Chris Fagan earlier this week said the availability of Gallop following a three-match ban for serious misconduct had caused a selection “dilemma”, particularly as bringing him back via the VFL to get him match-hardened for the AFL finals series wasn’t an option because Brisbane’s reserve team’s season was over.

After much thinking, Fagan has opted to recall Gallop to AFL duty, which will lead to a reshuffle with Brisbane’s line-up as the Sunshine Coast product isn’t a like-for-like replacement for Annable.

The Lions need a win on Friday night to guarantee themselves a crucial top-four spot in the final series.

A loss could result in them dropping as low as seventh, which would mean they would have to play a wildcard match next week and win five successive sudden-death games to clinch a third consecutive premiership.

Brisbane ruckman Sam Draper, who is set to make his 100th AFL appearance, said the scenario was “very exciting”.

“We need a win – it’s as simple as that,” Draper said.

“We could slide to seventh if we don’t, so it’s a really important game.

“Regardless of whatever happens throughout the season, you want to finish as high as you can, so for us, top-four is the most important thing, to get that double chance.”

Draper, who turns 28 next month, has been a more than handy addition to Brisbane’s squad this year after leaving Essendon at the end of last year following a 2025 campaign that was marred by a ruptured Achilles injury.

“There’s uncertainty and there’s doubt when you make big decisions like that, but I was pretty confident through the process I went through that I’d made the right choice, regardless of what happened with how the season panned out,” he said.

“I knew it was the right choice for me. I needed a bit of a reset, physically and mentally.

“I was able to get that by moving up to Brisbane. Just the lifestyle change, it’s such a massive thing, as well as with my football, there has been a big change.

“I’ve learnt a lot on resilience. I’d like to think I’m pretty mentally strong now. I’ve had a few setbacks. I learn from these injuries and these setbacks.”

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