Former North Melbourne great David King believes the restructured fixture puts the Brisbane Lions in the box seat to win the premiership.
The Lions are currently third on the ladder, having won four of their last five games.
With the AFL on Wednesday announcing that the remaining 10 weeks of the season will be played in Queensland, King believes Brisbane should now be considered "nominal favourites" to win the flag.
โWe used to talk about you had to win at the MCG, that was the toughest ask for interstate-based teams,โ he said onย Fox Footy's AFL 360.
โThey had to come to the MCG, they had to go through Chicago, we term it that every year.
โYou have to win the big game at the MCG. That may not be the case this year, it may be at the Gabba. They donโt lose (there), I think theyโve won 14 of the past 15 home and away games at the Gabba.
โThey lost a close game in the finals last year and Richmond and Dusty got hold of them in the other game. Theyโve had that finals experience, they want for nothing on their list.
โTheyโve got the best, most in-form midfielder in Lachie Neale, their key back in Harris Andrews that is conquering all and this forward line is getting better every week.
โI donโt think the Brisbane Lions should be the odds they are, I think they should be the nominal favourites right now.
โIf the season is to go through and a finals series to go through the Gabba, this is their time.โ
The Lions were comprehensively beaten last week by Geelong after conceding seven goals in the third quarter.
Chris Fagan's side will look to make amends when they face GWS this Saturday at Giants Stadium, who have their backs against the wall after losing to Port Adelaide last weekend.
After their clash with the Giants, Brisbane could spent the remaining 10 weeks of the season back home in Queensland.
Lions coach Chris Fagan is currently in this fourth year as coach.
