Brisbane’s 16-win 2019 season has seen them go from hunter to hunted.
Despite finishing second in the home-and-away season and breaking a decade-long finals drought, the Lions will feel there’s unfinished business to attend to in 2020 after a straight sets finals exit.
Young gun Hugh McCluggage says his teammates are embracing the heightened expectations heading into the new season.
McCluggage, who had a breakout year in 2019, is buoyed by the club’s injury-free pre-season to date.
“We understand that after an improved year that we’re going to be hunted more and teams are going to put more work into us,” he told SEN Mornings.
“But we’re just trying to have a really solid pre-season and we’ve had not too many surgeries or injuries; we’ve got a fully fit healthy list training.
“We’re looking forward to getting into it and embracing that tag as a good team that other teams come to hunt down and try and beat.”
Brisbane’s opening Marsh Community Series match is against Port Adelaide in Moreton Bay on February 23.