AFL Cat-astrophe looms for Lions - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

AFL Cat-astrophe looms for Lions

By Laine Clark 21/07/2010 06:09:02 PM Comments (0)

At 195cm and 102kg, not much should scare Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown.

But even the giant forward admits there is a "certain fear" about travelling down to Geelong and facing the defending AFL champions on Saturday.

However, Brown is still adamant they have picked the right week to start salvaging something from their horror season.

In a desperate bid to take the heat off their embattled coach Michael Voss, the Lions have drawn a line in the sand after losing 11 of their past 12 games.

The message has been clear from the senior Lions players this week - they are not going to take it any more.

But the form guide suggests the Lions' year may reach new depths at Skilled Stadium on Saturday.

Geelong look set to take their frustration over last round's shock loss in Adelaide out on a Lions outfit in sight of their first wooden spoon since 1998.

Oh, and the Lions haven't won in Geelong since 2003.

"We are looking forward to going down there," Brown said defiantly.

"Our record down there recently, it hasn't been flash.

"(And) there is no doubt that every side that goes down there, there is a certain fear attached to that.

"But it is going to be up to our team how we approach that - we can either stand back or hit it head on.

"It is a great opportunity to get to play one of the great sides of all time. We relish that and will be up to the contest."

Losing hasn't been a rare sensation for the Lions but Brown said their last round 75-point thumping at the hands of Hawthorn appeared to be the final straw.

"It was an embarrassing loss on the weekend. Everyone was hurting after an effort like that," Brown said.

"You don't train your arse off all week to show up and be defeated like that.

"Hopefully after all this adversity, the boys will be able to get stronger as a group, find that character within and get out and do something about it."

The Lions are due for a change in fortune, and hope to get it when Simon Black (ankle) has a fitness test later this week.

And they will need all the help they can get - the Lions lost their last clash against the Cats by 81 points at the Gabba, and their last game in Geelong by 93.

To make matters worse for the Lions, Geelong forward Steve Johnson (suspension, hand) and veteran defender Darren Milburn (soreness) are both set to return on Saturday.

"It's very simple things that can get us back into some winning form," Brown said.

"That will let us have our heads held high on our performance out on the ground.

"(And) it is fairly and squarely on the players' shoulders to dig us out of this trough we are in."

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