While the close loss to Gold Coast Suns last weekend still hangs over the heads of Lions supporters, podcast hosts Dom Fay and Michael Whiting kicked this week's episode of the Roar Deal off by looking at the bigger picture.
Both Fay and Whiting agreed that some of the Club's youngest players showcased their best performances last weekend.
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"You can argue that Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry and Harris Andrews played their best games for the
"It has been the youth of the team that has proven to the be the regular contributors in the past five rounds." Whiting agreed.
Young gun Hugh McCluggage, who made 26 disposals, five tackles and five marks on Sunday, sat down on the podcast to discuss what was one of his career-best performances.
“I was able to get a bit more of the ball which was really nice,” McCluggage said.
"I've been trying to take on a little bit more responsibility in the game,
"I guess I've had a whole season under my belt now and it's up to us (the younger players) to start improving now."
For McCluggage, the greatest change he has noticed in his performance since 2017 is his mindset.
“I think the main thing is confidence.”
"A full pre-season without injury does a lot for your confidence."
Away from football, McCluggage has taken a liking to golf. A sport that many of the players around the Club have taken up in their spare time.
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Amongst this group of keen golfers exists a friendly rivalry for the 'Ivory Jacket'
The boys play their own social competition with the ultimate title being to take home the jacket.
“We play with our handicap and the winner gets their name on the jacket and the loser has to pay to get it
McCluggage is the most recent amongst the group to have taken the title and Ivory Jacket.
Brisbane Lions' Forward Coach Jed Adcock also joined the podcast to chat about the big debutant news.
Ruckman/Forward Oscar McInerney, or 'Big O', will make his Seniors debut against GWS and according to Adcock, no other player deserves the call up more so than him.
“He’s a bloke that has left no stone unturned,” Adcock said.
“He does everything to make himself a better player… If there’s anyone who deserved his side in Seniors, it’s him.”
Fay and Whiting agreed that it was obvious to them how much McInerney was liked by fellow teammates just from the kind words spoken about him around the Club.
Adcock couldn't have agreed more, saying, "Everyone loves him because of the work he does throughout the week.”
“He’s just an all-around good person and that’s who we want at our Club, good people.”
This weekend McInerney will join a Lions side who are determined to prove they can pull that final quarter effort.
The team travels to Sydney Friday afternoon before facing off against GWS at Spotless Stadium on Saturday.
Adcock is certain that although the ladder doesn't yet reflect it, the Lions are climbing their way back to being competitive in the league.
"We’re very optimistic and positive about the footy we’ve played so far," Adcock said.
“The wins will come if we continue the process we’ve begun.”
