Brisbane midfield coach Dale Tapping says Lachie Neale won’t be Giants’ only target

GWS targeted Western Bulldogs gun Marcus Bontempelli in their elimination final win but Brisbane’s star midfield is prepared for an all-out assault on Saturday.

Brisbane midfield coach Dale Tapping has warned star on-baller Lachie Neale won’t be a lone target as the Lions prepare for an all-out offensive from GWS in Saturday’s semi final.

Both clubs have pledged a physical contest with the Giants eager to replicate the niggle that served them so well in last week’s elimination final win over Western Bulldogs.

Marcus Bontempelli bore the brunt of GWS’ attentions and while Neale could receive similar treatment from tagger Matt de Boer, Tapping says the entire midfield are prepared to give as good as they get.

“They (GWS) obviously paid attention to Bontempelli but it wasn’t just Bont they went after, they had a good hunter’s mentality across the board,,” Tapping said on Thursday.

Midfield Coach Dale Tapping speaks during a Brisbane Lions AFL media opportunity at The Gabba on September 13, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“But if it happens to be Lachie or Zorks or anyone for that matter, I think our guys have demonstrated this year that they can play a strong brand of footy and at the end of the day you’ve just got the make the ball your focus and that’s where the real courage lies and real strength lies.

“We’ll have plans around what we need to do as we have every week but we’ll just be making sure we’ll be strong at the footy and strong at the contest.”

The like-for-like inclusion of Nick Robertson for Mitch Robinson shows the Lions mean business at contested football with Brisbane happily dragging the 24-year-old from a NEAFL grand final to the big stage.

Tapping has been pleased with Robertson’s past ten weeks in reserve grade and is backing the abrasive midfielder to play a key role at the Gabba.

Four of them, one of me. Lions hardman Nick Robertson (centre) isn’t afraid of the rough stuff and poor odds. Picture: Darren England

“Nick’s footy has been pretty good throughout the course of the year along with a number of NEAFL boys,” Tapping said.

“He gives us good options in terms of his midfield and halfback strength so he’ll be pretty useful.

“We’ve had a really clean bill of health in terms of our list this year and our AFL side by in large has been in really good form so it’s been difficult at times to make wholesale changes cause everyone has played their role and played their part really well.

“Nick has been one of many in the NEAFL team who’s produced some real good footy this year and that little gap has opened up for him with Mitch out injured.”