IT'S usually a surface reserved for horses, but it was the big cats roaring around Doomben Racecourse on Wednesday as the Brisbane Lions finally found a dry training venue.
With the Gabba still required for cricket and the club's usual pre-season training grounds at Coorparoo and Yeronga badly affected by Brisbane's horrendous wet weather, the Lions looked a little further afield.
With the blessing of the Brisbane Racing Club, they used one of Brisbane's premier horse racing tracks and were put through a searching two-hour session.
With the infield configured in the shape of an AFL oval, the Lions went through their paces ahead of Saturday night's NAB Cup match against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium.
The winner will almost certainly advance to the following week's final.
Lions defender – and 2012 best and fairest – Joel Patfull said it was important to get solid training in after some recent interruptions with poor weather.
"It was a bit different. We're running out of ovals to train on at the moment so it was good to get out here and have a dry track and get a good session in," Patfull said.
"We've had a bit of rain obviously over the last few weeks, so the usual deck (Coorparoo) is under water.
"This is one of the last resorts, but it was a great deck and we were happy to get out here.
"We've been training at the same oval for four or five months now so it was a good mental change to get out here and see something different, but the big positive was to get a good session out."
Patfull will be one of a number of experienced inclusions to play the Magpies, along with Jonathan Brown, Daniel Merrett and Daniel Rich.
The Lions have gone to great lengths this week to talk down the significance of a possible pre-season final appearance, preferring to direct their attention to round one.
Assistant coach Shane Woewodin was no different, but said an opportunity to win away from home was a significant incentive for the Lions.
“I think a big part of this footy club going forward is winning on the road [and] creating a winning culture, so we've got another chance to go down there and win a game," he said.
"It's a big occasion on a big stage in Victoria against the biggest club in the land. It's a good test of where we're at right now."
Joel Patfull is a defender in NAB AFL Fantasy. He averaged 50 points in 2012. Register your team at our AFL Fantasy Hub.
Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting
