We’re up for final, says Lions skipper

THE Brisbane Lions say they can “beat anyone” in the AFLW as they prepare to take on two-time premiers the Adelaide Crows in Saturday’s grand final.

Captain Emma Zielke (pictured) said the team was hoping third time’s a charm to take out their maiden premiership.

“We know we can beat anyone in this competition,” she said.

“We’ve had some great battles with Adelaide over the years, so we’re looking forward to it again.”

The match will be the second time Brisbane and Adelaide have competed for the flag, the Lions having lost to the Crows in the 2017 grand final. Zielke said the Lions had a “completely different” team than their previous two grand finals.

“Over the years we’ve lost a whole team of players and to rebuild … we brought in some really crucial and important players who have stepped up this year,” she said.

“We’ve stepped up from last year and we just keep building.

“The young girls in particular, their development has shot through so much this season and they’re a big part of why we’re at the grand final this weekend.”

Brisbane lost to the Crows 5.3 (33) to 6.9 (45) in its first defeat of the 2021 season.

But on Saturday the Crows will be without skipper Chelsea Randall due to concussion protocols.

“That’s so unfortunate for the Crows but it’s showing that the AFL is taking this concussion really seriously, putting everyone’s health first,” Zielke said.

The Lions skipper said she hoped Adelaide Oval would break its attendance record for a domestic women’s sport game of 53,034, set in the 2019 AFLW grand final.

“The biggest crowd we’ve been a part of is our first grand final, I think with 15,000 and we thought that was unreal so it’s going to be something that is really exciting to be a part of,” she said.