Brisbane Lions edging closer to finals, says Western Bulldogs coach

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney insists Brisbane Lions are closer to the finals than the football world thinks.

Brisbane Lions

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney insists Brisbane Lions are closer to the finals than the football world thinks.

The Lions have again missed the top eight, but have an opportunity to notch a respectable 10th win for the season against the 15th-placed Bulldogs tomorrow at the Gabba.

McCartney's side has five wins from a torrid campaign in 2012, one more than Brisbane finished with last year.

And the Bulldogs coach reckons the Lions are closing the gap on the AFL's elite.

"There are a lot of young lists that on face value seem a long way off," McCartney said.

"But you put one or two pre-seasons in the right people, in the right environment, they can come on quite quickly.

"Most of the teams around the bottom of the pack are putting out a lot of young players.

"When they mature physically and mentally they can sneak up on you."

McCartney is renowned for developing talent having served as a long-time assistant at Geelong where he helped turn the young Cats into an AFL powerhouse.

He was handed the reins at Whitten Oval at the end of 2011, charged with the task of rebuilding the one-time flag contenders from the ground up.

Brisbane and the Bulldogs have been moving in opposite directions in 2012 and have passed each other like ships in the night on the AFL ladder.

McCartney said the Lions have illuminated the path to improvement by focusing on young talent, a philosophy the Dogs will also embrace.

"They've (Brisbane) made really good, progressive steps. And they've done that off the back of a good core of young players in the 20 to 24 years age group," McCartney said.

"They're setting themselves up well."

Brisbane will wait until after today's final training session at the Gabba before finalising the squad for tomorrow's clash.

Elliot Yeo was unlucky to be omitted from the side which beat Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last weekend and is a chance of forcing his way back in, but Brisbane may also stick with the same 22 that triumphed over the Power.