The sting of last season's grand final defeat has been the driving force behind a complete tactical overhaul for the Brisbane Lions, who are now poised for a shot at redemption against the undefeated North Melbourne in this Saturday's AFLW Grand Final at Ikon Park.
A Defeat That Changed Everything
The Lions' loss to North Melbourne in the previous decider was a heartbreak that prompted deep reflection. Coach Craig Starcevich and his squad decided their old game plan was no longer sufficient, leading to a pre-season focused on intensive skill development to match the red-hot Kangaroos. The memory of that defeat continues to fuel the team's determination.
"We're so determined. It drives everything," said forward Ruby Svarc. "It's caused us to rethink our game plan, rethink everything that we do so that we can tackle the next year and come back and win it the next year. It's definitely always there in the back of our minds."
A Season of Growth and a Winning Streak
Such a significant change did not come without its early challenges. The Lions lost three of their first five matches, including a sobering 29-point defeat to the Kangaroos in round five. However, Svarc refutes the idea that the team was in a rut, explaining it was a period of strategic layering and adaptation.
"I wouldn't say that. I would say that we've added layers to our game plan, we've had different opponents," Svarc stated. "Maybe it looked like that to people from the outside, but we knew internally what we were doing. It's not a bad thing to lose games because you actually learn so much from it. We really reviewed them, sat in the disappointment a little bit and it kind of gave us more motivation to be better."
That motivation has paid dividends, with the team winning nine consecutive matches to power into the grand final, a run that included Svarc's four-goal performance in the preliminary final win over Carlton.
The Grand Final Showdown
As they prepare to face the reigning premiers, who are yet to lose a game this season, Svarc was diplomatic about whether North Melbourne's perfect record could become a disadvantage under pressure. "I don't know if it's a disadvantage but potentially it might come into play if they start to be challenged," she mused. "Maybe it's a mental thing, I don't know, we'll see how they go."
With Brisbane's sporting scene already celebrating AFL, NRL, and NRLW titles this year, Svarc allowed herself to dream of adding the AFLW crown to the city's remarkable haul. "That would be pretty awesome for Brisbane. I'm sure the whole city would love that," she said. "I guess we've just got to focus on the job at hand for the weekend and hopefully celebrate after."
