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Brisbane to lean on AFL and basketball legends in need of leadership

“It’d be silly not to dive into their knowledge and have those conversations with them.”

Published by
Aidan Cellini

Brisbane will look to big-game experience from Richmond legend Trent Cotchin and the basketball Boomers great Phil Smyth as the club looks to lock away a spot in the finals.

The Lions were on a nine-game win streak and were looking likely to secure a home qualifying final before inaccuracy in front of goal saw a fortnight of disappointing losses to GWS and Collingwood.

Heading toward its Round 24 clash against Essendon, Brisbane's top-four chances rely solely on Geelong's result, whilst a sixth consecutive finals appearance beckons for Chris Fagan's mob.

Midfielder Hugh McCluggage said it would be “silly” not to tap into the expertise available in embracing the big moments, something the Lions have failed to do in the past two weeks.

Despite leading both contests exiting the final change, Brisbane coughed up 10 goals to three, an aspect of the game that will be worked on throughout the week.

“We've got plenty of resources here. We've got Phil Smyth walking around and ‘Cotch' as well … guys that have been in big moments, having played professional sport themselves and are trained in the area,” he said.

“When you've got such experienced, great sportspeople and great people in general around your organisation, then it'd be silly not to dive into their knowledge and have those conversations with them.

“It's up to each person to go to them and source out the information that they need to make sure that when the pressure is on, they're able to perform at their best.

“We don't want to dramatise things and go searching for things just because we've had a couple of bad weeks, but … it might just be a few little conversations where you get a couple of bits of gold that might help you when you are in those in those pressure situations.”

Cotchin is a three-time premiership captain with the Tigers, who joined the club in an off-field role following his retirement at the end of the 2023 season.

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And Smyth, a six-time NBL title winner – three as a player and three as a coach – also works for the Lions in a mentoring role.

Lions midfielder Jarrod Berry was also in doubt for Saturday's clash after injuring his hamstring in the one-point loss to Collingwood.

Berry was seen at training on light duties, but no decision has been made.

Published by
Aidan Cellini