Brisbane legend Mal Michael believes the “lucky” recruitment of Conor McKenna this season could land the Lions their first Australian rules premiership for two decades on September 30.
Hardman Michael who was a key player in the great Brisbane side that celebrated a hat-trick of premierships from 2001-2003, hailed his former team’s recruiters for signing McKenna.
The Tyrone All-Ireland winner is set to embark on a maiden finals' series for his new team on Saturday, having never tasted play-off success in six seasons with the Essendon Bombers before returning to the GAA in 2021.
“The biggest weakness the Lions had was their defence – they’ve addressed that this year,” Michael said.
“They got really lucky with Conor off the half-back line, and they’ve had some really good improvement from Jack Payne and Darcy Wilmot, who are playing great footy, so they’ve all complemented each other.
“One area that I’d been critical of the Lions was their lack of pace off half-back. Now they have McKenna and (Keidean) Coleman and McKenna giving them rebound off there.
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“It’s a completely different team, so they can launch a lot of their attacks from that half-back flank.
“The backline looks stable and set. The Lions have a team now that’s pretty solid across all lines.
Lions coach Chris Fagan has achieved the best win-loss record of all 18 AFL senior coaches but under his six-year tutelage, Brisbane have failed to reach the season decider at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Their last appearance was back in 2004 when they were defeated by underdogs Port Adelaide.
Michael believes the Lions, who will host Port Adelaide in Saturday’s Qualifying Final at their Gabba fortress where they have won all eleven matches this season, have no excuses not to at least make the Grand Final this time around.
“This year they just have to do it, or at least get to grand final day,” said Michael.
“The 2020 (when Brisbane lost their preliminary final at home to Geelong) was the one that got away because regardless of where they finished, they were always going to play in home finals.
“In 2021 and 2022 they just got showed up in finals experience, so maybe with five years of that now, they’re ready.
“I think they can go all the way.”
