Brisbane Lions hope to hit top form against Geelong at Gabba

The Brisbane Lions are intent on extending their unbeaten start to their AFL premiership defence on Saturday night at the Gabba against Geelong.

The Lions are “sharpening” their “axe” in preparation for a Geelong side on the rebound from a shock loss to St Kilda.

Brisbane and the Cats meet on Saturday night at the Gabba in a match that was scheduled to have been the AFL season opener on March 6 only for it to be postponed because of Cyclone Alfred.

“It was a bit of a bizarre week, that cyclone week, where we did all our opposition preview and were ready to play, but then at the last second it got called off, so it feels like deja vu this week,” star Lions midfielder Jarrod Berry said on Thursday.

“We go through similar sort of stuff. We’ve done it twice, and we’re as prepared as ever to have Geelong up here.”

Since the postponement, the Lions have beaten Sydney and West Coast in tight affairs to start their premiership defence with back-to-back wins.

Lions star Jarrod Berry takes a mark during Brisbane’s win over West Coast. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Geelong has a 50 per cent record after two games. The Cats thrashed Fremantle by 78 points on March 15 before falling unexpectedly to the Saints by seven points last Saturday at Marvel Stadium.

“It just highlights how even the competition is. If you’re not on your game early on, teams can score against you, and it’s very hard to peg back those leads,” Berry said.

The Lions trailed 32-1 during the first quarter last Sunday at home against the Eagles but managed to recover to win by 19 points.

“West Coast really took it up to us, challenged us around the contest, and really took it to our boys,” said Berry, who added the Lions were slowly but surely working their way to top form.

“It’s all about us getting our squad and our getting our game style and plan to where we want it.

“It’s also about sharpening our own axe … and making sure that we’re primed and ready to go.”

Helping the Lions’ sharpness this weekend will be the expected return of star small forward Charlie Cameron from a calf injury that has prevented him from playing so far this season.

Kai Lohmann (left) and Charlie Cameron are expected to return for the Lions this weekend. Picture: Liam Kidston

“Everyone sees Charlie for the goals and Country Roads playing at the Gabba (after he kicks his goals), but he’s so much more valuable to our team than that,” Berry said.

“All the tough stuff, the tackles, getting out and creating space on the ground, giving us outlet kicks … I feel like we miss him in that aspect, so it’s going to be good to have him back.”

Cameron's fellow forward Kai Lohmann is also likely to return from an ankle injury he suffered early in Brisbane’s four-point win over Sydney on March 15.

Originally published as Brisbane Lions hope to hit top form against Geelong at Gabba