Lynchy explains how he passed a fitness test for a Magpies match

I’ve always considered Collingwood as Brisbane’s greatest rival, so when it came to Easter Thursday in 2004, there was no way I was going to miss out - even if it meant cheating my way in.

08/04/2004. Brisbane Lions v Collingwood at the Gabba. Alastair Lynch marks out in front. Digital image.

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Tonight is indisputably Brisbane’s biggest home game since their last final back in 2009.

When reflecting on my own career, I consider Collingwood to be our greatest rival and Easter Thursday were easily the biggest home games I played in for Brisbane.

We had a period of success where we always had strong crowds at the Gabba, but Easter Thursday was something special.

Getting in the face of Shane Wakelin and Steven McKee in the MCG game of 2004. I may have broken his jaw in the Easter Thursday game.

The 2004 season was going to be my last year and I was determined to play the Easter game. Not only was it the grand final rematch and my mate Chris Johnson’s 200th game, I knew it was going to be the biggest home and away crowd of the year.

Jared Brennan was a freak in his first match for us in 2003. Picture: Glenn Barnes

A stand-alone clash in front of a hugely parochial home crowd and a national TV audience were opportunities a club like ours, even when we were flying, didn’t get that often.

The previous season, our first Easter Thursday clash with Collingwood, had been an amazing experience.

I remember the buzz Jared Brennan made in his debut. We had seen a few of his tricks at training but when he picked up a footy with one hand it electrified a heaving Gabba crowd.

It certainly put a charge through our coach Leigh Matthews, who commented it was the greatest debut in the club’s history, which, anyone who knows Lethal will tell you, was a bit out of character.

Giving Johnno a lift off the ground with Martin Pike after his 200th game.

So when we got the fixtures for the following year I reckon the first thing everyone did was check to see if we got an Easter game against the Pies.

Me at the back with Daniel Bradshaw, and Starc in front with Des Headland.

My problem was I had been out with a hamstring injury, and even though I had completed the first training session of the week, I was told I had to prove my fitness the day before the game.

Having completed a long warm up and a few 20m sprints at close to full pace, I considered I’d done enough. But our fitness coach Craig Starcevich, who is now the coach of the Lions AFLW side, wasn’t satisfied.

He told me to do another couple at full pace. I was hardly impressed and possibly dropped a few choice words to him, but I went back and gave him a little bit more.

Staring at his stop watch, he still wasn’t happy.

“Harder mate, if you want to play you’re going to have to go quicker,” he said.

Testing the hammy out in front of Simon Prestigiacomo.

It was reasonable to say I was a little disappointed as I knew the hammie would hold up in a game and just couldn’t see the point in doing more.

Regardless, Starc was the boss and he wasn’t going to compromise his high standards by backing down.

So I decided it was time I made some adjustments.

By that I mean when he turned his back I kicked the cone in a few steps. It was probably only a metre, but it was enough to shave a fair chunk off my time and finally Starc smiled at his watch and gave me the nod.

“You’re in,” he said.

It took me a few years to confess to him about my deception but these type of big games aren’t to be missed.

I’m sure the modern fitness tests are a lot more scientific these days but one thing that doesn’t change is that an emerging young team will be jumping out of its skin to take on one of the league’s super clubs on a big stage in front of its biggest home crowd in a decade.

*Lynch went on to kick seven goals in that game.