LIONS TAKE PLUNGE
THE Lions have now firmed as premiership favourites for the first time in the club’s recent history following their convincing 37-point victory over Port Adelaide at the Gabba on Saturday.
Ladbrokes on Sunday had Brisbane at $6 odds to win the flag this year and end their premiership-winning drought, with GWS ($7) and Richmond and Collingwood ($8) sitting just behind them.
Brisbane’s red-hot AFL side now sits equal first on the premiership ladder, alongside Port Adelaide, following their four straight wins.
Lions coach Chris Fagan described their commanding 12.13 (85) to 6.12 (48) victory over the previously undefeated Power as the club’s best win of the season.
AFL great Brad Johnson told Fox Footy after the game the Lions would now be considered genuine premiership threats as one of the top teams in the league.
However, after enjoying a month-long run of games at the Gabba, the Lions now face a challenging fortnight as they set up camp in New South Wales this week.
Brisbane is expected to remain in Sydney for the next two weeks, beginning with Thursday’s clash with Geelong at the Sydney Cricket Ground, followed by the Round 7 game against GWS at Giants Stadium the following Saturday.
The new travel schedule has thrown the Lions’ usual preparation out of whack, with the club not expected to undergo a full training session in Brisbane before it flies south on Wednesday.
Brisbane will be boosted by the expected return of captain Dayne Zorko this week after sitting out Saturday’s game with a calf injury.
Zorko will replace midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen, who will miss Brisbane’s date with the Cats after limping off with his own calf injury in the first quarter on Saturday night.
Coach Chris Fagan said the Lions’ clash with Geelong will be the litmus test for the club’s young players.
“We’ve got a pretty tough game next week against Geelong … so that’s another good test,” Fagan said.
“Who’d have thought that Geelong and Brisbane would be playing each other at the SCG?
“It’s a weird year, isn’t it?”