Brisbane learn from finals stuff-ups, says Neale

Lachie Neale at Brisbane's training ahead of the qualifying final against Carlton. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Brisbane have "stuffed up" in recent finals campaigns, co-captain Lachie Neale says.

But he believes the harsh lessons are now a positive as the Lions enter a sixth consecutive finals series, starting with Saturday night's home elimination final against Carlton.

"Finals are built on moments." Neale told reporters on Tuesday.

"We have stuffed up a lot of moments, big moments.

Can the Lions go one better than their loss in the 2023 AFL grand final?

"And we have been through a range of experiences not only in finals but even this year, we have had to win in so many different ways.

"Against Sydney, we came from behind and won that game; we have had leads and blown them in the last couple of weeks as well.

"We have learnt so many different things across this season, let alone our finals experience.

"We feel like we're well equipped for any situation that a game throws at us.

" ... We know it's simple brilliance gets it done in finals and when we stray away from that we sort of lose our way a little bit, so there have been some great lessons for us for six years now."

Neale was bullish about the Lions' prospects, given the club's recovery from a precarious start.

Brisbane had just three wins from their initial nine games amid a horror stretch of injuries.

But since a round 12 bye, the Lions won 10 games with just two losses and finished fifth.

Neale
Neale shares a smile with coach Chris Fagan at Brisbane training on Tuesday.

"No-one expected us to play finals halfway through the year," the dual Brownlow medallist said.

"There has been quite a bit of talk that we let a top-four opportunity slip, which we did.

"But at the same time if you said halfway through the year that we'd be fifth, probably most people wouldn't have believed you."

Asked if the Lions, who lost last year's grand final to Collingwood by four points, could win the premiership, Neale replied: "Definitely.

"Over a long period of time, I think our form really stacks up," he said.

"And we have played some of the best teams - we have beaten the top two in that period, Sydney and Port Adelaide, and the Bulldogs who are one of the form teams as well.

"We don't expect it to be an easy ride, but we feel like if we play our best footy, we're every chance of winning it ... we genuinely believe we can win it and I'm sure seven other teams do to."

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