Brendan McCartney sat on Collingwood’s bench on grand final day last year, and in team meetings as one of their assistant coaches. The former Western Bulldogs coach was also with the Magpies when Craig McRae’s plans undid the Lions twice more. He has a clearer idea than most of what it takes to tame the Lions.
McCartney said one of the keys to beating the Brisbane Lions in last year’s premiership decider was the same as it will be on Saturday.
Lions defender Harris Andrews soars for a spoil against the Swans.Credit: AFL Photos
Sydney have to get through the first tackler.
“What Brisbane do very well is press forward. So if you want to run and carry through there like Sydney do, they will come at you really quickly,” McCartney said.
“If you are going to take Brisbane on through the corridor with using your numbers and shape and run and carry, then you have got to get through the first tackler. If they try and go through hands, or handball over hands [of defenders], the Lions will get you every time. They want you to panic handball or loop handball, then the next wave gets you, or they smash up on the player you’ve handballed to,” McCartney explained.
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