Run-and-gun Lions have 'nothing to lose' against Dockers
Jed Adcock says his side can go out with a bang against the Dockers
THE ONLY way to upset Fremantle's stonewall defence on Sunday is to throw caution to the wind, says Brisbane Lions captain Jed Adcock.
The Lions are fresh off a 67-point run-and-gun victory over Collingwood at the weekend, but Adcock knows taking on Ross Lyon's men at the Gabba presents a whole new challenge.
In the past three outings against the Dockers, the Lions have kicked a grand total of 14 goals and averaged just 34 points a game.
It makes for miserable reading and Adcock says there's only one way to rectify it.
"You have to take the game on," Adcock said on Tuesday.
"If you allow Freo to set their defence, it's almost impossible to get through. You need to be a bit bold with your ball movement and take it on.
"We've got nothing to lose anyway, do we?
"It's a great opportunity for a young group to go out with a bang at the Gabba."
As the season wears on, Adcock has developed more and more faith in his young team.
The experienced guys led the way against the Magpies, with Tom Rockliff (43 disposals), Dayne Zorko (36), Pearce Hanley (34), Stefan Martin (32) and Adcock himself (25) getting plenty of the ball.
But Rising Star fancy Lewy Taylor (24), reinvigorated Jack Crisp (22), James Aish (19) and second-game key forward Jono Freeman (four goals) also added spark and polish.
Adcock said the Lions had to keep backing themselves against the competition's second-best defence, even if they turned the ball over occasionally.
"You've just got to keep reinforcing to stick to the game plan," he said.
"Hopefully our defence at the other end, which has been good in three of the four weeks (since the bye), can hold up as well, even if we are turning the ball over.
"Our offence, by taking the game on, will hopefully come into its own."
After a nightmare start to the year with form and injuries, the Lions have been a second-half surprise packet, winning six of their past 11 games.