The Lions will boast more inside knowledge than meets the eye when they play Geelong in Geelong tomorrow afternoon.
Seven of the Lions' 22-man team played their junior football for the Geelong Falcons.
Luke Hodge, Darcy Gardiner, Alex Witherden, Rhys Mathieson, Josh Walker, Lewis Taylor and Allen Christensen started their football career at the football nursery.
Tomorrow afternoon the Lions will boast more players from the Falcons than the Cats themselves.
“For me, I feel extremely comfortable playing at that ground,” Witherden revealed.
The match will mark the 19-year-old’s first at the ground in Lions colours, since being drafted to the Club in late 2016.
“I played nine or so games there as a junior and went to watch the Cats play there a lot,” he said.
“I have no fears going to that ground and neither do a lot of the boys.
“Going home this weekend it will be nice to play in front of family and friends.”
The Cattery is known for its long and skinny field. Christensen hopes the teammates familiar with the setup, will take advantage.
“Hopefully there’s a bit of knowledge there that helps with our ball movement,” he said.
Christensen, a Falcons junior, played 65 games for Geelong, including the 2011 premiership. He was traded to the Lions at the end of the 2014 season.
Tomorrow’s game will be his first in Geelong since 2015 and believes he is better equipped at handling the pressure.
“This is my fourth season in Brisbane. Probably my first couple of times
“I was probably too mentally stimulated.
“I played the game before I had got there.”
Now Christensen, who is in the Lions leadership group, says he is mentally more mature and has his teammates to thank.
