Roar energy wins out

THE Brisbane Lions AFLW girls needed Collingwood to beat the Crows on Sunday to set up a grand final date with minor premier Western Bulldogs.

So, the caged Lions did the only thing they could — gathered around a TV set and screamed the Magpies to victory.

“We held each other’s hands through the game and came out the other side very happy,” Tassie Lion Jess Wuetschner said.

“The whole game we were yelling and screaming at the TV and could only watch half of it.

“The moment the siren went and we knew that we were through, we were absolutely ecstatic.”

The skills and fitness have gone up and the games are a lot harder. Watching each game, you don’t know who’s going to win, which is the most exciting part

AFTER yelling at the TV, barely being able to watch, and then complete euphoria, the Brisbane Lions are now focused on what they failed to do last year — winning the AFLW Grand Final.

Tasmanian Jess Wuetschner says the Lions are a different and better side than the one that lost to Adelaide by six points last year.

The Lions needed Collingwood to beat the Crows on Sunday to set up a grand final date with minor premier Western Bulldogs at Ikon Park on Saturday. The Lions watched the game together.

“We held each other’s hand through the game and came out the other side very happy,” Wuetschner said.

“The whole game we were yelling and screaming at the TV and could only watch half of it. The moment the siren went and we knew that we were through, we were absolutely ecstatic.”

Fellow Tasmanian Brittany Gibson, who also played last year, will be part of the Lions’ latest premiership tilt.

“Britt and I work at the same place so we see each other there a fair bit and at training all the time, so we see a lot of each other,” Wuetschner said.

Wuetschner kicked two goals in last year’s grand final, equal highest on the day.

She hopes to contribute strongly on Saturday in her new role of forward-pocket rotating through the middle.

“It’s a challenge — I’ve gotten a little bit fitter which enabled me to have that opportunity,” she said.

Wuetschner says the standard of the AFLW had noticeably increased.

“The skills and fitness have gone up and the games are a lot harder,” she said. “Watching each game, you don’t know who’s going to win, which is the most exciting part of this whole season. It’s so even.”

It would be a dream come true to lift the premiership cup.

“It would mean everything,” Wuetschner said. “That’s what we play for. “That’s why we love the game, for that success.”