Lions must ‘crave shots’ or risk ultimate goal
BRISBANE greats Alastair Lynch and Jonathan Brown have called for the Lions to embrace chances to kick goals, not fear them, or run the risk of inaccuracy costing them an AFL premiership.
Despite their lofty standing on the ladder, the secondplaced Lions continue to struggle in front of goal.
Brisbane kicked 14 behinds and only six goals in scraping their way to a two-point win over St Kilda on Sunday at the Gabba. This season they have kicked 145 behinds compared with 118 goals.
Lynch and Brown, the club’s greatest goal-kicker, combined for 1054 goals as the pair propelled Brisbane to a premiership three-peat in the early 2000s.
Lynch said current Brisbane players had to accept and welcome the chance to rectify the team’s poor accuracy.
“It’s being able to really want to crave that opportunity in a game to get the lay down misere shot and convert it,” Lynch said.
“It seems some of the Lions guys are anxious and it looks like they don’t crave the shot.
“Once you get into finals and playing the big games, if you don’t take your chances, whether they be easy shots or not, the good teams will get you. As we’re getting to the pointy end of the season, and going into finals, they’ve got to sort that out.”
Brown agreed, fearing Brisbane’s goalscoring woes could not only affect them in the finals but also cost them a topfour finish and a doublechance in the playoffs.
“Even this year being a unique season, you’ve really got to finish in the top four (to win the flag),” Brown said.
“I know they might get to play at the Gabba anyway this season, but I wouldn’t be leaving that to chance.
“First and foremost they have to start with embracing the pressure. That comes down to the individual and the team.
“They need to start with the positive mindset of embracing the challenge, and then they’re more of a chance of coming out the other side.”