Not since the Sydney 2000 Olympics has the city anticipated quite the sporting event quite like the second-placed Brisbane Lions (proudly sponsored by Neds) taking on the third-placed Cats on the neutral territory that is the SCG.
Make no mistake, this is a ridgey-didge blockbuster and after a month of chalking up the Ws at the Gabbaitoir.
The phrase “Brisbane Lions premiership favourites” ($6.50 in the second line of betting if you don’t mind) and “2020 Brownlow medalist Lachie Neale” ($3 for those of you playing at home) are really starting to roll off the tongue.
However, we can’t take it for granted.
Having the Brisbane Lions at the top of the ladder in back in primetime is a privilege, not a right and this Thursday night our boys will be out to prove we’ve bloody well earned it.
🎵 Go Charlie (Cameron) it’s ya birthday…
You can find me in the hub,
bottle full of bub 🎵
50 Cent references aside, we’re all about the (sc)G-Unit this Thursday night.
After four weeks at the Gabba, we’re on the road for the hub-life in New South Wales until further notice.
It’s somehow ironic that Queensland is now the AFL heartland when I’ve been advocating it for years and now the Lions have to leave, but it’s for the good of the game.
We meet Geelong in neutral territory.
Not since we were denied a home preliminary final back in 2004 have we played the Cats on a neutral ground.
All of our games against them have been either at the Gabba or GMHEBASKKRTRG Stadium or whatever the Cattery called this week.
Not going to lie, while I firmly believe the mighty Brisbane Lions (proudly sponsored by Neds) are an anywhere anytime team avoiding Geelong at the Cattery is very much a bonus.
We all remember fondly that glorious day at the Gabba last year when Lincon McCarthy was the hero that took that mark on the shoulders of Jack Henry and slotted that goal to put the Lions in the lead.
The roar was back at the sold-out Gabbaitoir as our boys got the job done by one point and found themselves on top of the ladder.
Once our boys get up on Thursday, we may very well find ourselves on top of the ladder again if some other results go our way.
There is so much to be excited about right now at the Brisbane Lions (proudly sponsored by Neds) and the mix of being on the road, team bonding and simply playing entertaining free-flowing footy along with chalking up the Ws is a fine recipe for some seriously good times ahead.
Lions in that 1-39 point bracket sounds about right.
See ya 👋 pic.twitter.com/vlUVAqnAKH
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) July 8, 2020
Lincoln McCarthy has proven a solid performer but has had the jitters in front of goal kicking 0.8 so far this season.
The former Cat saved the day in his 50th game on that glorious Gabba day last year and I feel as though it would be fitting he jag his first major for season 2020 this Thursday night.
LINC MCCARTHY HAS DONE IT AGAIN!
WOW!#AFLLionsCats pic.twitter.com/SUvrMvoXUG
— AFL (@AFL) August 17, 2019
2020 Brownlow medalist Lachie Neale is simply dominating all of those who come between him this year.
Another day, another case of leather poisoning with 29 touches last weekend against Port, which is his average this season.
If the quarters weren’t shortened this season, Lachie Neale would be getting about 40 disposals a game but I’m fairly confident he’ll get over the 30+ range at the SCG this Thursday night.
Another eye catching performance last night from Lachie Neale 👀 🏅 pic.twitter.com/e2FcSxeXPY
— Triple M Footy (@triplemfooty) July 5, 2020