Brisbane Lions must win against Collingwood to play AFLW finals

The Brisbane Lions believe if they can replicate the effort from last week’s tough loss to Carlton for the final home-and-away match they will make a third straight AFLW finals appearance.

Jade Ellenger of the Lions.

The Brisbane Lions believe if they can replicate the effort from last week’s tough loss to Carlton for the final home-and-away match they will make a third straight AFLW finals appearance.

Geelong’s shock 18-point loss to GWS on Friday night has handed Brisbane control of its own destiny when it takes on Collingwood on Sunday.

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The Lions have a marginally better percentage than the Cats and can leapfrog the first-year team into second place on the Conference B ladder behind Carlton with a win.

Jade Ellenger, who booted two goals on debut against the Blues at Ikon Park last week, said the Lions had watched the Geelong game with interest and loved to be in the position where four quarters of football would now make or break their season.

“It is do or die, the stakes are very high on this one,’’ she said.

“We are very excited for the challenge ahead, there are nerves ahead of any game, but we are excited for the opportunity.’’

Collingwood is yet to win this season and the Lions, despite an up and down season, would have to be considered favourites.

Jade Ellenger of the Lions in action against Carlton.

Brisbane put in a solid showing against the Blues last week and although the Lions went down by 16 points, they believe they did a lot right in that game.

“Last week our effort was definitely there, you can’t fault that, it just wasn’t our day,’’ she said.

“I think everyone worked hard, it was a really good game we started strongly and the opposition came out firing as well.

“If we can do what we did last week with our effort and just find an extra 10 per cent improvement in our form we are in with a real shot.

“Everyone knows individually what is at stake, but as a group we just have to focus on the game minute by minute and quarter by quarter.’’

Should the Lions win they would still have to travel interstate for a third straight week to play in a preliminary final.

It means Ellenger will have to wait until next year to make her first appearance in Brisbane.

But after waiting for five weeks for an opportunity to make her debut, and pushing herself harder at training each week to force her way into the side, she doesn’t care where she plays.

“It would be so good to get a home game under my belt, but any game is a great game and you have to have to take advantage of the opportunity,’’ she said.

“I’m really grateful to be playing, it doesn’t matter to me where.’’

Originally published as Brisbane Lions must win against Collingwood to play AFLW finals