We take a look at some of the key talking points from Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch’s press conference this morning.
On Stefan Martin
Leppitsch said the Lions' doctors would make the final call on Stefan Martin's availability following today’s training session.
Martin was concussed by a heavy hit from the SUNS’ Steven May last Saturday night. May was given a five-week suspension by the AFL tribunal.
"You have to get through the physical element, and not get headaches and things like that, which he hasn't had to date, but this is probably one of the biggest workloads he'll do and if he gets through that I can't see why he won't play," he said.
On May’s suspension
Leppitsch said May's suspension was consistent with what most in the industry had expected.
"These are things for the game, not me as coach," Leppitsch said.
"I mean, it's about eliminating it from the game.
"It could have been us on the receiving end; it could have been anybody.
"Once the action stopped it's all about Stef's welfare for us from the game forward; it has nothing to do with us at all apart from that."
On inaccuracy in front of the sticks
The Lions are ranked 16th for goal kicking accuracy. They kicked 23 behinds against the SUNS and could've punished them on the score board had these have been goals.
"When the first guy misses, the second guy's under twice as much pressure and when he misses, the third guy… it just keeps going up, and by the eighth guy he just doesn't even want the ball.
"That's the way it works and nothing's changed in 100 years of footy there,” Leppitsch said.
"What's going to have to happen this week is the first guy's just going to have to kick the goal and settle us down, and it's normally the set shot more than the running shot.
"It's really important to finish off the good work we're doing."
New solutions to old problems
Forwards coach Ben Hudson is busy looking into the putting and driving routines of professional golfers in the hope it might provide the Lions with a mental edge.
"We're trying our own things at the moment, some different things," said Leppitsch.
"There's so many theories flying around with goal kicking - do you practice just kicking goals, so kick from the top of the square and get used to success, do you try the hardest shots, do you use external things to help us?
"We've got our goal kicking routine plastered on our yellow men (training mannequins) out there, so guys remember every time what that is.
"I know golf's always been a good analogy with putting and driving, it's as much a mindset as it is a skill itself. You can stare down the whole fairway or stare down a spot."
Game day pressure
"We can't simulate Etihad Stadium with 25,000 opposition supporters yelling at us. Experience tends to prepare you for that," he said.
"I don't think we're going to get it down here at Coorparoo so we have to just be mentally prepared that that's what's going to happen.
"What's going to have to happen this week is the first guy's just got to kick a goal and settle us down."
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