MAULINGS HAVE CUBS ROARING
BRISBANE Lions threw their rookies to the wolves in 2017 but young Lion Alex Witherden believes that “sink-orswim” mentality is paying dividends leading into Saturday’s sellout Gabba clash with Geelong.
The likes of Witherden, Eric Hipwood, Jarrod Berry and Hugh McCluggage have played key roles in busting Brisbane’s decade-long finals hoodoo and will complete a collective coming of age when Witherden runs out for his 50th senior game.
All four cut their teeth in a Lions’ wooden spoon year which yielded five victories, but he attributes the harsh lessons as the base for this season’s meteoric rise and their development as players.
“That’s the direction the club, to try to get games into us younger guys, so that was a big learning curve,” the former Geelong Falcon said.
“We were going out there against bigger, harder bodies and we maybe at times weren’t ready to be playing AFL footy, but I think it’s held us in really good stead.
“We’ve probably learned lessons quicker than maybe other people have because we were exposed to those opportunities and now Hugh and Jarrod have played 50, Eric’s played 70-odd, and I’m lucky enough to play my 50th this week, so I think that’s indicative of how the group has grown this year.”
Exactly how much growth will be determined when the Lions host the flag favourites in front of 35,000 fans.
Witherden conceded questions could be raised as to whether Brisbane was “the real deal” given it had yet to face Geelong or Richmond, but the 20-year-old believes their form speaks for itself.
“It’ll be a good test for us over the next fortnight to see where we’re at against those sides,” he said. “But we’ve played 16 other sides and held our own on most occasions.
“You’ve got to embrace it and we’re really excited about testing out where we’re at and I think we’ll know a little bit more after Saturday.”