Triple-premiership profitable strongman Mal Michael says the addition of Conor McKenna to Brisbane’s defence looms as the ultimate piece within the Lions’ premiership jigsaw.
A key defender within the Lions workforce that received a hat-trick of flags from 2001 to 2003, Michael had been important of Brisbane’s backline – earlier than this 12 months.
However, the “lucky” recruitment of pacy Irishman and former Bomber McKenna, in addition to the emergence of Jack Payne and Darcy Wilmot, has satisfied Michael that defending, and the flexibility to transition with pace into assault, is now not an issue for the Lions, who host Port Adelaide in Saturday evening’s qualifying remaining on the Gabba.
“The biggest weakness the Lions had was their defence – they’ve addressed that this year,” Michael stated.
“They got really lucky with Conor off the half-back line, and they’ve had some really good improvement from Payne and Wilmot, who are playing great footy, so they’ve all complemented each other.
“One area that I’d been critical of the Lions was their lack of pace off half-back. Now they have McKenna and (Keidean) Coleman and McKenna giving them rebound off there.
“It’s a completely different team, so they can launch a lot of their attacks from that half-back flank.
“The backline looks stable and set. The Lions have a team now that’s pretty solid across all lines.”
Including the midfield, the place Michael stated one other of Brisbane’s low season recruits, former Western Bulldogs star Josh Dunkley, had been “massive” for the Lions.
All that’s left now for the Lions to do that 12 months is to win the premiership or, in response to Michael, a minimum of attain a grand remaining for the primary time since shedding the 2004 decider to Port Adelaide, who ended Brisbane’s hopes of four-straight flags.
“This year they just have to do it, or at least get to grand final day,” stated Michael, who felt the Lions blew an excellent probability to win the premiership in 2020 when many of the season, together with the grand remaining, was performed in Queensland attributable to Covid-19 ramifications.
“That was the one that got away because regardless of where they finished, they were always going to play in home finals.
“In 2021 and 2022 they just got showed up in finals experience, so maybe with five years of that now, they’re ready.
“I think they can go all the way.”
Source: www.news.com.au
