Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Evergreen defender Ryan Lester doesn’t expect a repeat of the Brisbane Lions’ preliminary final shootout against Fremantle in the grand final, adamant the old football adage still counts.
The 34-year-old, gearing up for his fourth consecutive grand final appearance, addressed a crowded press conference at Springfield on Tuesday after signing a one-year contract extension.
Hawthorn’s (19.8) 122 points on Saturday was the most in a preliminary finals loss in AFL history.
The Lions (20.11) countered with 131 points of their own, a total that followed a 144-point score against Adelaide a week earlier.
They conceded 141 against Sydney in a heavy loss to begin the finals series, with goals from centre bounces coming free and fast all series.
“Part of that shootout on the weekend was the forwards for both teams didn’t miss,” Lester explained.
“Kicking goals from sort of everywhere … inflated the score a little bit so I probably wouldn’t expect to see that in the final.”
Brisbane contained Sydney to 60 points and Geelong to 75 in their previous two grand final wins, while Collingwood only needed 90 points to pip the Lions in 2023.
Lester is adamant the saying “defence wins championships”, coined by decorated American college football coach Paul Bryant, still rings true.
“As a backman, we do, yeah,” he said.
“We’ve proven in the previous couple of grand finals, and throughout the year, and the past few years, that we can keep teams to a reasonable score.
“We certainly don’t go into the game thinking we need 120 points to win.”
It is Lester’s ninth one-year deal and fifth in a row. The versatile back says the retirement thoughts that crept in a year ago have not resurfaced during a career year.
Dropped 17 times in his first 13 seasons, Lester has transformed from a self-confessed “role player” to a versatile difference maker on the side’s three-peat quest.
Used on small forwards in the side’s last two games, he can also play taller and has improved his marking ability to become an aerial threat alongside captain and key defender Harris Andrews.
“I felt like I’ve played as well as I ever have,” he said.
“It’s mainly the mental side of the game and believing in myself.”
In the past Lester was intent on proving his worth whenever he was recalled but is grateful that now Fagan is seeking him out to perform a variety of roles.
“Last year I felt like I was sort of just playing my role for the team,” he said.
“I felt like as a 33-year-old, potentially it was in the club’s best interest for someone else to do that.
“Whereas this year I feel like I’ve sort of added a little bit more, and they become a bit harder to replace.”
Defender Noah Answerth (ankle), injured against the Swans, ran freely to begin training on Tuesday and he pushes his case to replace star midfielder Lachie Neale, should his suspension be upheld at Tuesday’s tribunal.
