Star Brisbane defender Harris Andrews acknowledges he needs to pick up his AFL form, adding he's well aware of the scrutiny on him this season.
Coach Chris Fagan and teammate Marcus Adams have defended the two-time All Australian in the last couple of weeks after some media criticism.
But as the Lions come off the bye for their MCG blockbuster against Melbourne, Andrews says he's done some thinking during the break.
"My personal performance, I need to be better," he said.
"My teammates are extremely reliant on me to be at my best when we're playing our best.
"It's been a great little reflection period ... I'm just excited about the second half of the year."
Asked if the noise around his form had lit a fire in him to prove the critics wrong, Andrews replied "minimally".
He said making an elusive grand final and playing as well as possible for the team was all the motivation he needed.
"I'd be remiss if I said I didn't hear any of the discussion that goes on about my form," he said.
"At the same time, I want to hold myself to high standards and I will come into the club each week and set myself to improve.
"It's important to not get caught up in the discussion that happens ... at the same time it's a great opportunity to go out and play my best footy.
"An opportunity to play on (Melbourne's) Ben Brown, who's a really quality key forward, it's a great starting point for the second half of the season."
Andrews said there had been times when he was down in form, adding the team defence also had been lacking at times.
The top-placed Lions will need to be at their best to beat second-placed Melbourne, despite the Demons struggling on a three-game losing streak.
Andrew, who plays his 150th game on Thursday night, has never won at the MCG and the Lions have not played there since March 2020.
Brisbane also have a nine-game losing streak at the grand final venue.
The Lions have ended a number of these streaks under coach Chris Fagan.
"It's always been a good little bit of extra motivation, certainly along the way Fages has used that as an opportunity to really fire us up," Andrews said.
"This is no different.
"The best thing you can do is go out there with a good attitude and just set yourself for a really great challenge."
Andrews has no doubt that Melbourne will return to form this week.
"You obviously set yourself for their best. They have a point to prove now," he said.
"They probably aren't playing the footy they want to play ... we certainly respect the work they've done in the last 12 months.
"That being said though, we think we have a really great opportunity to go down there and play on their home deck. "
