Australian football Hall of Famer Terry Wallace has run his eye over the huge Qualifying Final clash between Brisbane and Richmond.
The former Hawthorn star believes the Tigers are the better team and the Lions can’t waste their opportunities in front of goal as they have in recent encounters.
“Richmond to me are the most equipped team structurally wise and they’re a team that seem to be able to play any time, anywhere and any conditions,” Wallace told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“What we’ve got to find out about Brisbane, to me they’re still an improving team, what did they learn from their two finals losses last year and how much growth have they got.
“I think the injuries to Harris Andrews and Jarrod Berry and even Charlie Cameron who’s come back to a little bit better form, but we still haven’t seen the best of Charlie Cameron in the back half of the year.
“You’d like to see those three guys all up and fit coming into this finals series.
“They played two finals last year where they kicked 4.10 in the first half against Richmond and 4.10 in the second half against GWS. They did it again earlier (in 2020) against Richmond again.
“They can’t afford to be mucking up opportunities in this game.”
If the Lions can’t get through Richmond, Wallace is backing them in to defeat the winner of St Kilda and the Bulldogs.
“I can’t see Brisbane going out in straight sets this time around. I just think that they’re more mature, I think the growth in them is there, the home ground advantage factor is there,” Wallace said.
“If they can’t get it done against Richmond, who are my number one seed, I wouldn’t like to be playing (Brisbane) if they get beaten again, so that would be their third lost final in a row, I wouldn’t want to be playing them next week in a final because I just can’t see this side going out in straight sets.
“I think they’re playing the best (Richmond) and I’ll be sticking with the best until I see something different. Richmond over a four-year period and in finals have been the best, so until I see something change, I’m sticking with them.”