For so long strugglers at the Melbourne venue, the Lions began to turn the tide with impressive pre-season wins over Collingwood and Carlton at Etihad.
However, when the premiership points were up for grabs in round one against the Western Bulldogs, the Lions went missing and were hammered by 68 points.
It was a performance coach Michael Voss later admitted had the chance to railroad the Lions' season before it really began.
Speaking ahead of the club's main training session on Thursday morning, ruckman Matthew Leuenberger said they were eager to get back to Etihad.
"We thought we'd made massive inroads in the way we played when we travelled," Leuenberger said.
"We had a really good NAB Cup and unfortunately we came in round one against the Dogs and didn't put in the performance we were hoping for.
"It's another big challenge for us to prove we aren't the team when we travel we were in round one- we're better than that. I think the boys are looking forward to making amends."
However, Leuenberger is wary of the winless Kangaroos.
Like Rohan Bewick on Wednesday, the ruckman was at pains to explain the Lions' desperation to win against a mid-table team.
He said winning and getting to a 2-2 win-loss record was crucial to have any hope of progressing in 2013.
"They're no easy-beats, they don't capitulate, they always hang in there," Leuenberger said.
"We know we're going down for a hot contest.
"It's a massive game. We've got the potential to go two and two or one and three. One and three looks shocking in comparison to two and two. It's hugely important."
Leuenberger has returned strongly in the past fortnight from a 12-month layoff due to an Achilles injury, and said he relished the chance to go head-to-head with Kangaroos' ruckman Todd Goldstein.
Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting
