Forwards Coach Jed Adcock said Saturday afternoon’s blockbuster against Geelong gave the team a taste of what finals action will be like, as the Lions prepare for their first September appearance in a decade.

The Lions had not played the Cats in 25 rounds and in front of a packed Gabba crowd managed to defeat them for the first time in six years, since the infamous “Miracle on Grass.”

“I think the boys got a taste of the pressure and speed of the game,” he said.

“It probably took us a little bit to adjust to that.

“We got run down a couple of times and kicked 11 out of the full, which is unheard of stat wise.”

Unlike Round 5’s Easter Thursday game against Collingwood, the Lions were not overawed by the occasion.

“We knew coming into the game it was going to be high pressured, high contested, really like a finals atmosphere. The crowd brought that as well,” Adcock said.

The Cats kicked three quick goals towards the end of the second quarter to take a strong lead but the Lions did not drop their heads and managed to claw their way back. 

“I think it’s been a real positive for us this year, we haven’t had teams except for Collingwood and Essendon, we haven’t really let teams get on runs or get away.”

An even bigger challenge awaits for the Lions this Sunday afternoon when they meet Richmond at the MCG in front of 65,000 plus people.