‘Selfish’ Lions shelve title talk in three-peat chase
Murray Wenzel |
Hugh McCluggage has likened the club’s pursuit of more AFL premiership glory as an addiction as the Brisbane Lions try not to focus too firmly on another club three-peat.
Like 12 months earlier, there was barely a mention of September’s dominant grand final defeat of Geelong when the Lions returned to preseason training this week.
“When you get there (to a grand final) it’s exciting but you don’t want anyone else to taste it, you get selfish,” star Lions midfielder McCluggage said.
“The night of the grand final …. it’s honestly just the happiest night.
“The smiles, the pure joy, the adrenaline.
“You lap it up for a little bit, but yesterday you’re doing laps in 38 degrees and you’re back down to earth pretty quickly. “
Replicating the efforts of the 2001-03 triple premiership side will be an obvious talking point this year.
“We’re our own team, taken a different journey to get there but you’ve got the fans saying why can’t we?,” McCluggage said.
“As soon as your mind goes too far forward it falls apart pretty quickly.”
Forward Oscar Allen and ruckman Sam Draper have been recruited from West Coast and Essendon and both have been part of 20-strong unofficial sessions in recent weeks.
Small forward Lincoln McCarthy, who has missed both flags due to a recurring knee injury, is fit again while influential defender Keidean Coleman is also running well after missing most of the past two years.
“You’re such a close group you’re keen to get out there and get to work,” McCluggage said of the Lions’ early return.
“Oscar Allen and Sammy Draper, really throwing themselves into it.
“It’s awesome to see the way they’ve attacked it. It gives us confidence, but a lot has to go right to get back to where you have to get back to.”
AAP
