Brisbane Lions have learnt lessons from past finals series as they plot Geelong’s downfall

The Lions have been quick to switch their focus rather than enjoy last weekend’s thrilling win over the GWS Giants for longer than needed.

Having paid a hefty price for celebrating for “too long” two years ago before a preliminary final against Geelong at the MCG, the Brisbane Lions have made sure to avoid the same trap ahead of Saturday’s do-or-die affair against the same opponent at the same venue.

The Lions were on cloud nine in 2022 after scoring an upset 13-point semi-final win over Melbourne at the MCG.

However, they failed to refocus in time for the following weekend’s preliminary final against the Cats, also at the MCG, and were spanked by 71 points in a disappointing end to their season.

It’s a match and performance that has been on Brisbane coach Chris Fagan’s mind since the Lions’ emotional five-point semi-final win last Saturday night over the GWS Giants, who at one stage in the third quarter led Brisbane by 44 points.

“I felt like a couple of years back when we beat Melbourne at the MCG, the celebrations went on too long and by the time we got to the prelim the next weekend, Geelong were ready and waiting for us … and beat us comprehensively,” Fagan said.

“That was in the back of my mind, so post-game against the Giants the other night, we reviewed the game straight away, celebrated, enjoyed it and then I said to the players ‘that’s it for that game’.

“On Tuesday we trained and then straight into looking at Geelong after we trained. We just tried to move on quickly into the mindset that we want to have this weekend.”

Geelong’s Mark Blicavs (left) and Brisbane’s Oscar McInerney jostle for position during the Cats’ preliminary final win in 2022. Picture: Michael Klein

Lions co-captain Harris Andrews said his team had learnt to “move on quickly”.

“We came off this pretty big emotional win a couple of years ago against the Demons and the whole MCG hoodoo that the media like to push across,” the star defender.

“`Fages’ (Fagan) alluded to that after the game (against the Giants).

“We really wanted to focus on enjoying that moment because you don’t get those opportunities to have those wins away in big finals all too often, but really to just get on with the job and just focus on this week has been really impressive.

“Clearly, the proof will be in the pudding when we get out there on Saturday, but I’m comfortable and confident that the group has been able to switch off from last week and also make sure that we’re ready to go.”

Fagan rejected suggestions that there was “no pressure “ on the Lions because few had expected them to get this far after starting their season with five defeats in their first seven games, including a 26-point loss to Geelong at the Gabba.

“There may be that element to it, but you’ve got to (acknowledge) that it’s a preliminary final, and a grand final spot is the prize,” the Lions mentor said.

“We’ve been trying to play for the last three or four months a little bit freer of the weight of expectations.

“We’ve done that quite well. We’ll certainly go in with that attitude but we know what the prize is, so it’s a pretty serious game.”

Fagan said Lions co-captain Lachie Neale would be “good to go” on Saturday despite having a heel injury that has been “managed” for the best part of two months.