- Lions plan to fly to Melbourne a day earlier than last year
- Coach says team will arrive Wednesday to ‘relax’
- Lions book place in final with 10-point win over Cats
The Brisbane Lions fly to Melbourne a day earlier than last year in preparation for their match against Sydney in the first non-Victorian final in 18 years.
Twelve months after falling four points short of winning their first championship since 2003 when they lost to Collingwood, the Lions secured a place in another MCG deciding match with a remarkable 10-point win in the preliminary final against Geelong.
Brisbane will play on neutral ground this time around, a stark contrast to the match in which the Magpies army helped Collingwood to an epic grand final victory on home soil.
Lions coach Chris Fagan expects the club to travel south on Wednesday, rather than Thursday as in 2023.
“Maybe we’ll change things up a little bit,” Fagan said.
‘Maybe we’ll come by on Wednesday, take it a bit easier and train a few times here in Melbourne.
‘I’m not sure we can get to the MCG twice, but that doesn’t matter.
“I think it’s just good to be here and prepare for the game.”
The Lions fly to Melbourne a day earlier than last year as they prepare to face Sydney in the AFL Grand Final
Coach Chris Fagan said the team will arrive Wednesday to “take it easy”
The result against the Cats ended the Lions’ 20-year streak without a win against Geelong outside Queensland.
Since Brisbane defeated the Cats in the 2004 preliminary final, the Lions have lost 13 games at Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium, plus a final at the MCG in 2022.
The Lions have turned around their poor record under Fagan at the MCG this year, beating Melbourne in round five, losing a close game to Collingwood late in the home-and-away season and beating the Cats in a preliminary final at the grand final venue.
“This year we’ve won twice and lost once by one point, so we’re performing better at the MCG than we have in the past,” Fagan said.
But the Lions will be without ruckman Oscar McInerney against the Swans, who dislocated his left shoulder in the first quarter.
McInerney bravely got back on the ground, but in the third quarter he dislocated his shoulder again and was taken to hospital in the final quarter, missing the scenes of celebration in the Lions’ gymnasium after the game.
Rather than returning star Joe Daniher to the starting lineup as he did against Geelong, Brisbane are likely to recall either Darcy Fort, who has played just two games this year, or Henry Smith, who has played four games.
Twelve months ago the Lions fell four points short of winning their first championship since 2003 when they lost to Collingwood
Fort Smith, with Daniher as back-up, faces a huge task against Sydney big man Brodie Grundy, who is a double All-Australian.
“It’s just a huge shame,” Fagan said of McInerney’s injury.
‘It gives someone else a chance, someone like Darcy Fort or Henry Smith.
‘We are lucky, our reserve team played until last week… so we have players who are ready to come on.’
Fagan also confirmed that midfielder Lachie Neale is still undergoing treatment for a heel/foot injury as he continues to receive treatment ahead of the match against the Cats.
After barely training during the week, Neale shone with 31 possessions and 12 breakaways, the most of the game.