Brisbane Lions attempt to win in Geelong for the first time since 2003
A 22-year winless run at a stadium is enough to make any team cower —but not the Brisbane Lions.
The Lions have made a habit of breaking hoodoos under Chris Fagan — and they are determined to tick off the final item on their list.
ABC Sport is live blogging every round of the AFL and NRL seasons in 2025.
ABC Sport is live blogging every round of the AFL and NRL seasons in 2025.
Brisbane has not won at Geelong's Kardinia Park since round six, 2003, with now-Cats coach Chris Scott kicking the match-sealing goal for the Lions that day.
Will and Levi Ashcroft were not born yet, and since then, it has been 13 straight losses ahead of Friday night's blockbuster.
"We've had a lot of those things over the years," Fagan said.
"It's been 20-odd years since we've won here at this ground. The last couple of times we've played here, they've been close games.
"So as we've become better as a team, we've been able to challenge Geelong a little bit more.
"But it all starts again tomorrow night. We're obviously looking to break through that milestone and they'll obviously be trying as hard as they can to stop us."
In recent seasons the Lions ended an 11-game losing streak at the MCG in 2022, snapped a 15-game run against Richmond in 2020 and an 11-game losing streak against Sydney in 2019.
Under Fagan, Brisbane also ended poor runs against West Coast, Geelong and Adelaide.
Fagan said the Lions "had a bit of fun" with their various hoodoos.
"We've done that from the day I arrived at the club because we couldn't beat anyone," Fagan said.
"It's true, we were struggling as a football club back then.
"We just looked at various teams we hadn't beaten for a while and set ourselves to do that. I think that's a reasonable thing. It's all part of goal setting and striving.
"And we've ticked off many things over the last few years, including that one about the MCG, we couldn't win there. So that's all part of being competitive."
The Lions (9-4), who have lost two on the bounce, travelled to Victoria a day early, on Wednesday, and were relieved they had made that choice after dealing with multiple delays.
Fagan believed low pressure numbers against GWS were an "outlier" but poor goal kicking had been an issue in that game and against Adelaide.
"That's the one glaring thing at the moment that's hurt us in the last couple of weeks," he said.
Star small forward Charlie Cameron has kicked 12.14 and just one goal in the past month.
Fagan insisted Cameron's contributions elsewhere had been important.
"It's been up and down from a goal kicking sense but we'll back him in," he said.
The reigning premiers will also be "patient" with Kai Lohmann, who has had a similarly up-and-down year.
Fagan confirmed veteran defender Darcy Gardiner will come in to replace Jack Payne (knee).
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