Lions make it to the NAB Cup Final! & pic spam
Roaring Lions give fans early hope
Brought to you by ADAM COOPER, AAP
Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews believes his young side has already given the AFL club's supporters something to be optimistic about in 2007.
The Lions are one win away from landing the club's first pre-season flag and starting the premiership season confident after they recorded inglorious finishes of 11th and 13th in 2005 and 2006.
Many Lions fans feared those two results signalled the end of the mighty reign from 2001-04, when Brisbane won three premierships and reached four straight grand finals, but Matthews is hopeful Friday night's win over Geelong would instil hope in fans.
Brisbane will play the winner of Friday night's Kangaroos-Carlton semi-final next weekend in the NAB Cup grand final.
"Our group is about trying to build some belief in itself because most people outside have got no belief in us," Matthews said after the Lions beat the Cats 3.8.10 (85) to 0.10.13 (73) at Telstra Dome.
"You can talk the words but you've got to play together and play well together to establish a little bit of belief.
"It's important for our supporters. Our supporters now feel there's some short-term hope when most were pretty much convinced three or four weeks ago we would be just making up the numbers this year."
For the third game running, the young Lions travelled and beat their more-fancied opponents, and Matthews said young guns Michael Rischitelli, Justin Sherman, Jed Adcock and Jared Brennan were starting to become reliable performers.
Those four players were initially given their early chances through injury to more illustrious team mates, however they can now command games on form.
The younger players have given Matthews the quickest side he has ever coached, and key players Jonathan Brown, Jamie Charman, Daniel Bradshaw and Nigel Lappin will only strengthen the side once they return.
Brown is in full training after overcoming knee troubles and is expected to return for the NAB Cup final.
And now the first pic spam for 2007 YAY!!
