Brisbane’s fighting spirit against Collingwood pleased coach Craig Starcevich after flu swept through the team

SEVERAL Brisbane AFLW players were struck down with the flu ahead of their clash with Collingwood on Saturday but their fighting spirit please coach Craig Starcevich.

THE Lions women got their first real rev-up of the season on Saturday but turned things around to once again win the coach’s praise for their fighting spirit.

It has been revealed a flu went through the side last week that, on top of back-to-back trips to Melbourne and Perth, left the Lions out of sorts ahead of Saturday’s clash with Collingwood.

Craig Starcevich, himself sporting a croaky voice, said his coaching group were unhappy when they addressed the team at three-quarter time.

Brisbane had controlled the contest in the opening half but let the Pies back into the contest in the third quarter when their defensive efforts dropped off.

The winless Magpies went into the final quarter with all the momentum and it was a gutsy effort by the Lions to hang on for a four-point win.

Brisbane beat Collingwood in a thriller, with coach Craig Starcevich happy with his team’s fighting spirit. Picture: Darren England

“We were disappointed with them at three-quarter time because they had played a lot of unaccountable footy at that point, which is not their style as a group,’’ he said.

“So we were pretty cranky.

“But they found something in the last quarter, they have the capacity to dig deep, and they were able to find something.

“I think they probably listened to how we wanted to structure up.’’

The Lions are undefeated but Starcevich said with some players down on form and several still struggling with the flu, the only positive he could really take was their fighting spirit.

“Not a lot really, other than just the willingness to compete to the end,’’ he said.

Several Lions players were battling with the flu in the lead-up to the game. Picture: Darren England

“We had a lot of players who were down at halftime who found something in the second half.

“We’ve had a bit of that (flu) go through the team as well, you’re going to come to games sometimes when you are not cherry ripe and this was one of those times.

“To get away with and pinch the games there is probably relief.’’

Starcevich said the side had appreciated a day off at home on Sunday and were looking forward to a recuperative week leading into Saturday’s clash with GWS at Brendale.

“We’ve had a really tough few weeks with back-to-back travels and when one of those is Perth and with only six days’ break it is always going to be hard yards,’’ he said.

“Just that recovery and extra day’s break will make the world of difference.’’

Originally published as Brisbane’s fighting spirit against Collingwood pleased coach Craig Starcevich after flu swept through the team