Initial plans had the Lions facing reigning premiers Geelong at Southport this Friday before the Gold Coast ground’s soggy condition forced the match to be moved to Visy Park in Melbourne this Saturday.
It will be the third consecutive week that the Lions have travelled interstate during their 2010 pre-season campaign.
Former Southport Sharks product Merrett was particularly looking forward to returning to his old AFL stomping ground.
“Yeah, I’m a little disappointed,” Merrett said on Thursday. “It would have been nice to head back to the old home ground at Southport where I played U18s.”
“But with the weather we’ve had this week, there’s nothing we can do.”
“We just have to roll with the punches and are now looking forward to the challenge of heading back down to Visy Park and playing the Cats.”
Merrett preferred to look at the positives from the unexpected rain and schedule change.
“We’ve been able to get a fair bit of practice in the wet now,” he said. “So if we play games in the wet during the year, we really should be used to it.”
“The move also gives our Melbourne supporters another chance to see us in the flesh again.”
The full-back will have to wait another week before returning to his old home to play at Southport with the Lions scheduled to play Hawthorn on the Gold Coast on Friday 12 March at 3:30pm in their final NAB Challenge match of the pre-season.
“At least we get to play the Hawks down there next week which will be good for our members and supporters in Queensland and on the Gold Coast.”
