Brisbane Lions backman Pearce Hanley says his young side is excited about the tough assessment the Geelong Cats will give ahead of Sunday’s clash at the Gabba.
The Lions, coming off a hard-fought loss to Hawthorn in Tasmania last Saturday are looking forward to hosting a Geelong side seeking redemption after successive losses to Essendon and West Coast respectively.
“We had a bad loss to Hawthorn,” Hanley said after the loss to the Hawks which saw Lions skipper Jonathan Brown break the Club’s goal-kicking record held by former forward Daniel Bradshaw.
“Although Geelong have lost their last two in a row we’re not looking into that much.
“They’ve been a good outfit for the last five or six years.
“We’re excited, we have a young group - tough test so it should be good.”
Hanley said his side had learnt from their recent loss and rated Hawthorn as a top four side.
The focus this week was on playing four quarters after conceding six goals in the final quarter last weekend.
“Every week we’re addressing it because we haven’t put a four-quarter effort together since Adelaide,” Hanley said. “Obviously on the weekend our last quarter wasn’t good enough.”
Hanley came to the Club at the end of 2007 and could not be happier plying his trade in Brisbane after years of playing Gaelic football in Ireland.
“I love Brisbane,” Hanley said. “I love the weather, I love the lifestyle.
“It’s better than being at home at College and working on weekends.”
Hanley also said he was happy playing in a defensive role at the Club but would not mind a longer spell in the midfield.
“I was a forward growing up all my life so I wouldn’t mind going into the forward line but I can’t see any twists in Vossy’s arm there,” Hanley said.
“A spell in the midfield would be good and hopefully next year you see more of me in there.”
Hanley spoke in a green Lions Guernsey as part of the Lions partnership with co- Major Sponsor Conergy to promote energy efficiency and environmental awareness.
“The Gabba goes green this weekend,” Hanley said. “It’s sending out more signals to be more environmentally friendly."
The Club encourages all Lions members and supporters to go green, come along on Sunday when the Gabba Goes Green and have the opportunity to see skipper Jonathan Brown kick his 500th career goal with a countdown provided on the big screen.
Hanley ready for catfight
Lions backman Pearce Hanley says his side is excited ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Geelong Cats at the Gabba.