Brisbane Lions desperate to remain focused on beating Adelaide in preliminary final

Lions captain Breanna Koenen is wary of an Adelaide ambush on Friday night, fearing ongoing and premature speculation about where to play the AFLW grand final – should Brisbane earn hosting rights – could distract her team from the task of reaching the decider.

Minor premiers Brisbane will host the Crows in a preliminary final on Friday at Gold Coast venue Metricon Stadium.

Should the Lions beat the defending premiers, they will earn the privilege of hosting the grand final.

However, with both the Gabba and Metricon Stadium unavailable for the November 26 decider, speculation about a potential venue has been ongoing.

Should the turf be playable, Brisbane’s new Springfield base, Brighton Homes Arena, is reportedly the likely option.

However, if the field is not ready, Cazalys Stadium in Cairns has been suggested as a grand final venue.

There is also a chance the Lions might have to “host” the decider at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.

That is the least preferred option for Koenen, who as a North Queenslander, admitted it would be “amazing” for the grand final to be played in Cairns.

“It’s something you dream about,” Koenen said.

“It’d be huge if we got a home advantage in Queensland.

“It obviously would be amazing, but it’s going to be a tough weekend to be able to get there, even.

“Adelaide has been contending since day one. They’ve been fierce competitors all the way through and they show up every year.

“I enjoy playing them. It’s definitely a challenge. It’s one you look forward to because they are so good all the time.

“If you’re able to knock them off, you’re in good stead.”

Koenen said the Lions were doing their best to block out the “external noise” about where the grand final would be played.

She said it reminded her of the inaugural AFLW season in 2017 when the Lions had to host the grand final – which they lost to Adelaide – at Metricon Stadium because the Gabba playing surface wasn’t up to scratch.

“There was so much going on about where we were playing it,” Koenen said.

“I think we’re a lot better suited to it now. It’s just one (match) at a time.

“It’s so hard to even make a grand final, let alone win one, so that’s purely what we’re focused on at the moment.”

In this weekend’s other AFLW preliminary final, Melbourne, last season’s beaten grand finalists, meets North Melbourne at Ikon Park.