By Nick Wright
Kai Lohmann represents a changing of the guard at the Brisbane Lions – a new wave of talent aiming to end a premiership drought of more than two decades.
But if they are to help coach Chris Fagan’s men cast aside 21 years of disappointment, the emerging brigade will need to find a new gear.
Only the Western Bulldogs have won the AFL premiership from outside the top four this century, so the clash on Saturday with Carlton will be just the first hurdle for the Lions to overcome.
Kai Lohmann of the Lions celebrates a goal.Credit: via Getty Images
But after last year’s grand-final heartache at the hands of Collingwood, Lions co-captain Lachie Neale said Brisbane was “definitely” equipped to go the distance.
“I think we’ve seen in the last 12 weeks since the bye, we’ve had two losses [against the Giants and Magpies] but we played some of our best footy in those two games, and learned a lot from them.
“Over a long period of time, I think our form really stacks up, and we’ve played some of the best teams – we’ve beaten the top two sides in that period in Sydney and Port Adelaide, and the Bulldogs, who are one of the form teams as well.
“No game is going to be easy, we don’t expect it to be an easy ride, but we feel if we play our best footy we’re a chance of winning it.”
The Lions’ senior players – All-Australians Neale and Dayne Zorko, along with Charlie Cameron, Harris Andrews and Hugh McCluggage – will need to be at their best.
But teams, not individuals, win flags, and while Brisbane will go into the finals as the fourth-most experienced side, they are the only outfit to feature in September for the past six seasons.
Lohmann, Will Ashcroft, Jaspa Fletcher, Darcy Wilmot and Logan Morris have all been exposed to harsh lessons and moments of euphoria in their short careers, covering injury voids left by Keidean Coleman, Darcy Gardiner, Lincoln McCarthy and Tom Doedee.
Both Fletcher and Wilmot played in the grand final loss, with an ACL rupture depriving Ashcroft of the same fate, and a fractured collarbone robbing Lohmann of the chance to line up.
The quintet were key in helping guide the Lions’ out of their early season slump, overturning a 2-5 record to lose just three of their next 16 clashes.
Throughout the year, they have improved considerably in key statistical areas and become game-changing figures, culminating in Lohmann’s heroics against Essendon to secure Brisbane a home final.
Huge stakes were on the line, given Brisbane faced a possibility of missing the finals heading into the last round, and the 20-year-old delivered.
“Getting continuity with my body has been the main thing, and then just trying to improve and gain confidence at this level,” Lohmann said.
“It’s been good to play every game this year, and I’ve just been improving and learning stuff as the weeks go on.
“Hopefully, I can just play as I have been. There’s a bit of energy around the club with Charlie and blokes like that with the personalities, but I’m bringing the energy and so are Logan and Darcy and these sort of guys.
“We’re just trying to do our part for the team, bring a lot of energy and have some fun while we’re doing it.”
This will be Wilmot’s chance to prove he is the long-term face of Brisbane’s backline.
The 20-year-old has not missed a game in the past two seasons, and his workload has had to hit new heights with a host of injuries to the defensive unit.
He may well get some much-needed support to take on the Blues, after Jack Payne returned from bone stress in his foot for the first time since round 17 through the VFL.
Brandon Starcevich is also likely to make a comeback from a minor hamstring concern.
Neale confirmed Payne appeared to be at full fitness.
“I’m not sure which way we’ll go ... Darragh [Joyce’s] come in and done a great job as well, so it’s going to be a hard decision to make.”