Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Sport
Anna Harrington

How AFLW grand final loss made Lions rethink everything

Out of their 2024 grand final misery, the Brisbane Lions took inspiration. (Scott Barbour/AAP PHOTOS)

Last season's grand final loss to North Melbourne made a heartbroken Brisbane rethink everything.

The Lions' old game plan went out the window and when they cracked into pre-season, Craig Starcevich's charges prioritised extra skills sessions to go with the red-hot Kangaroos.

Brisbane will get another chance at redemption when they face unbeaten reigning premiers North in Saturday's grand final at Ikon Park.

"We're so determined. It drives everything," forward Ruby Svarc said of last season's defeat.

"It's caused us to rethink our game plan, rethink everything that we do so that how can we tackle the next year and come back and win it the next year.

Svarc
Ruby Svarc (c) celebrates a goal in the prelim final win over Carlton. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

"So it's definitely always there in the back of our minds and we're a really, really determined group.

"So we're pretty keen to get out there on the weekend and do our best."

Brisbane's change-up understandably came with teething issues.

The Lions lost three of their first five matches, including suffering a 29-point defeat to the Kangaroos in round five.

But things clicked into gear and they have won nine on the trot since.

Kangas
The loss to the rampant Kangaroos in September added fuel for the Lions' winning run. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Svarc, who kicked four goals against Carlton in Saturday's preliminary final win, dismissed the suggestion Brisbane had previously been in a rut.

"I wouldn't say that. I would say that we've added layers to our game plan, we've had different opponents," Svarc said.

"Maybe it looked like that to people from the outside, but we knew internally what we were doing and I guess by the end of the season, the outside world could probably see that a bit better

"It's not a bad thing to lose games because you actually learn so much from it.

"As disappointing and as stressful as it might be to lose those games, we actually took so much from it.

"We really reviewed them, sat in the disappointment a little bit and it kind of gave us more motivation to be better."

Svarc was unwilling to buy into whether the Kangaroos' lack of losses could prove a disadvantage when tested.

North
The Kangaroos' preliminary final win over the Demons extended a remarkable unbeaten streak. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

"I don't know if it's a disadvantage but potentially it might come into play if they start to be challenged," she said.

"Maybe it's a mental thing, I don't know, we'll see how they go."

But she can dare to dream of the city of Brisbane adding the AFLW crown to its AFL, NRL and NRLW titles this year.

"That would be pretty awesome for Brisbane. I'm sure the whole city would love that," Svarc said.

"I guess we've just go to focus on the job at hand for the weekend and hopefully celebrate after."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.