Lions skipper dismisses AFL disruptions as ‘carry-on’
Harris Andrews says Brisbane won’t suffer from a disrupted season start after their first game was postponed and they had to make an early move to Sydney.
Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews reckons there’s been plenty of “carry-on” as the reigning AFL champions prepare to launch a belated title defence.
The Lions’ season-opener against Geelong last Thursday was postponed due to ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, which has also prompted the team to fly to drier Sydney pastures on Wednesday.
That’s two days earlier than originally planned for their grand final rematch with the Swans on Saturday, and follows a four-day period where the team were confined to their homes as heavy winds and rain battered the region.
But, grateful and relieved to report no major damage to his and his teammates’ homes, Andrews reckons their disrupted start to the season is nothing to complain about.
“To be honest (there’s been) a little bit of carry-on around the disruption of our preparation for this week,” he said.
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“It was a very tough time for a lot of people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW.
“We’re just very lucky that our jobs can go ahead … our thoughts are with everyone and we want to go out and represent the city of Brisbane really well.”
The Lions played an internal match on Wednesday, trained at their homes over the weekend, indoors at Springfield on Monday and ran on the Gabba on Tuesday.
They will train again in Sydney and crucially have influential defender Brandon Starcevich available after overcoming the concussion that would have ruled him out of the Geelong clash.
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“As a group we’re ready to go and would have been ready to go last Thursday night,” Andrews said.
“I’m just motivated to play footy again with my mates.”
The Lions are confident they won’t follow the modern trend that’s seen premiers struggle in their title defence.
Collingwood last year became the fourth reigning premiers to miss the finals in the past eight seasons.
Brisbane overcome a horror start last season, rising from 13th and then fighting back twice from large deficits to reach the grand final and beat the Swans by 60 points.
Chris Fagan’s side were narrowly beaten in the 2023 decider, and while the coach admits there is no way to guarantee early-season form, he is confident.
“I’m not sensing any complacency or ego or sense of entitlement,” Fagan said.
“The group’s hungry. They enjoyed what they did so much, they want that feeling again, but there’s seven months of work ahead to get it.
“You can’t look back … there’s danger everywhere, so you keep grounded.”
Rookie midfielder Levi Ashcroft is poised for a debut alongside brother Will, the pair’s terrific hands and decision-making around the contest evidence of how the side has evolved from a kick-first strategy.
“You double down on the things we’re good at … but you have to keep one eye on the competition and can’t be too stubborn to not change,” Fagan said.
