LIONS LICKING THEIR LIPS

BRING IT ON: BRISBANE HUNGRY TO TEST ITSELF AGAINST BEST, STARTING WITH CATS SHOWDOWN

BRISBANE is embracing the challenge of squaring off against fellow premiership contenders Geelong and Richmond in the next fortnight, with coach Chris Fagan declaring his team is ready for the big stage ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Cats.

BRISBANE is embracing the challenge of squaring off against fellow premiership contenders Geelong and Richmond in the next fortnight, with coach Chris Fagan declaring his team is ready for the big stage.

The Lions dismantled Gold Coast on Saturday, marching with ease towards an eighthstraight victory and solidifying its bona fides as a genuine flag fancy.

They will have the benefit of facing the Cats at the Gabba on Saturday before a final round showdown with the Tigers at the MCG, providing them with an ideal preparation for September action.

Fagan said the prospect of taking on Geelong this week in a blockbuster home clash was one the Lions were looking forward to.

“It will be interesting to see how we go because it has been a long time since we have played Geelong and a long time since we have played Richmond, so we will definitely embrace that challenge and it will give us some good feedback as to where we are really we are at,” Fagan said.

“We will look forward to it because we know no matter what, playing against those teams you learn something and you become better for the experience, so that is the way we will approach it.

“Our group has been fantastic this year, their consistency has really been outstanding other than the Collingwood game earlier in the year and Essendon for a half. I know we have lost two or three other games but they weren’t by much.

“I think our fans … can feel like when we come to play we are going to turn up and give our best effort. So that is what we will try to do next week and we will learn some things, and it will be only good the stuff that we learn, even if it is bad.”

Charlie Cameron starred for Brisbane with six goals against the Suns and he will be one of several players Chris Scott and his coaching staff will have to plan for to ensure the Lions do not have the game on their terms this Saturday.

Fagan said the opportunity to be back in the AFL spotlight was something his players had been preparing for after stumbling against the Magpies at home in the standalone Good Friday eve clash in Round 5.

“It was invaluable the Collingwood experience, and we all sat down and talked about the pros and cons of that one and learnt a lot as a footy club,” he said.

“That is all part of it, and some of these clubs get to play those sorts of games all the time but for us, it has been rare, so to get that experience earlier in the year was great and I am pretty sure it will help to stand us in good stead for next week.

“You can see the players growing before your eyes but in six or seven days’ time we have got to go out and face a great club and it will be a challenge for us but we will look forward to it.

“If we want to be a good team you have got to play in these of game all the time, so get used to it is what I say.”