Lions defender feared grand final chance was lost

As much as Noah Answerth enjoyed driving Dayne Zorko’s father to Melbourne last year to watch the AFL grand final, the Brisbane defender is much happier at the prospect of playing in this season’s decider.

Having fought his was back into Brisbane’s side at the business end of the campaign, Answerth will relish the chance to be part of a Lions side intent on taking down the Sydney Swans at a packed MCG on Saturday.

“Last year I was sitting in the stands watching,” he said in recalling the agony of seeing his club fall short by just four points in last year’s grand final against Collingwood.

That came after he volunteered to drive Zorko’s father, who because of a heart condition couldn’t fly, to Melbourne for the game.

“I was more than happy to do that, but it meant I didn’t really get to do grand final week with the boys,” Answerth said.

“For me and my family, it’s a pretty big turnaround this year.”

Answerth, 25, admitted he feared he might never get another chance to push for AFL grand final selection after making only four top-flight appearances last season.

“In your career you ask yourself how many times is this going to happen, and you don’t know if that’s going to be that one that you miss out on and if you’re going to get back there,” he said.

“To not be playing was hard but to go again this year and be involved is something pretty special to me.

“I just had to believe in myself a bit more and understand that I can play at the level required.

“I’m someone who can be pretty negative when I'm in the VFL. You get down a bit, but … it’s good karma to go through all that and end up getting the chance to play in an AFL grand final.

“I might not be the best player in the side but I’ll have a go.”

An example of that was his willingness to back himself in the dying stages of last Saturday’s thrilling preliminary final win over Geelong when he scooped up a loose ball at the contest and kicked it deep into Brisbane’s forward line.

It led to Callum Ah Chee kicking the goal that put the Lions back in the lead, an advantage they didn’t relinquish.

“To be able to have an influence in that stoppage and get the ball forward was great,” Answerth said.

“I wasn’t planning on losing, so I was going to try to do everything I could for us to win because I really wanted to get to that grand final.”

While Answerth has waited six years to play in a grand final after debuting in 2019, teammate Logan Morris is set to play in a decider in his first AFL season.

“It’s been pretty crazy,” the 19-year-old forward said.

“A grand final in my first year is something I thought that I’d never be doing.”

Morris watched last season’s grand final at a friend’s house in Melbourne, and having no affiliation at that stage to the Lions, he was cheering for Collingwood.

“I grew up going for the Bulldogs. My dad used to go for the Pies, but because I grew up in Melbourne, I just thought I’d back in the Pies that day,” he said.

“The boys here were weren’t too happy when I told them, but 12 months later I’m playing for Brisbane, and I can hopefully contribute to a grand final win this year.”