Brisbane midfielder Jarrod Berry refuses to concede that his side’s season is on the line on Sunday against the Gold Coast Suns, claiming another loss won’t spell “doomsday” for the Lions.
Last year’s beaten grand finalists have lost five of their first seven matches this season, with a top-four spot almost already beyond their reach.
A top-eight berth is also no certainty such has been Brisbane’s poor form.
However, Berry was adamant the Lions’ season would not hinge on the result of Sunday night’s QClash at the Gabba.
“It’s an important game no doubt but win or lose, we still play the same way and it’s not a doomsday scenario,” said Berry, who added Brisbane’s “hunger” remained intact.
“We haven’t got the results that we’ve been after but it’s definitely there.
“When we’re not going as well as we want to … it’s backs against the wall stuff.
“We like being the underdogs and take the opportunity to come out and prove to everyone that we are still that (grand final) side and start piecing together a really good season.”
If the Lions are the “underdogs” against the Suns, who have won four from seven this season under new coach Damien Hardwick, it signals a huge swing in Queensland football such has been Brisbane’s form in the previous five AFL seasons and the Gold Coast’s failure to reach the top eight since joining the competition in 2011.
However, under triple premiership-winning coach Hardwick, the Suns rate reaching the finals as this season’s minimum requirement.
“They’re going quite well. Obviously, a new coach, a new game style, they’ve been chalking up the wins which is really good,” Berry said.
“We always know the rivalry with the Suns is red hot, and we’ll be expecting them to bring it on Sunday night.”
The Suns’ side is set to include 26-year-old Berry’s younger brother Tom, the former Lions forward who in his second season on the Gold Coast has blossomed under Hardwick’s guidance.
“He’s playing with the confidence and freedom that you need to play with to be a successful AFL player,” a “proud” Jarrod said.
“It’s awesome that ‘Dimma’ (Hardwick) can bring that out of him because we knew he’s always had it, it’s just whether or not the coach had that trust in him to do it, and you can say that he’s got it now.”
Tom, who turns 24 on Wednesday, said he was “absolutely loving” being coached by Hardwick.
“He’s obviously got a lot of trust in me and what I can bring to the team” the younger Berry said.
“He really focuses on what you can do well, rather than what you’re not so good at.”
Hampered by a shoulder problem, Tom made only six AFL appearances in his first year at the Suns after just three the previous year with the Lions.
However, he said he never doubted his ability to play at the top level.
“I didn’t play as much as I would have liked last year but I felt like I needed to make that move (from Brisbane),” he said.
“The Suns were super supportive of me through that year and looked after my body as much as they could and ended up making the right decision of getting surgery just before the end of the season.”