Brisbane Lions veteran Chris Johnson has played down coach Leigh Matthews' comment that the Lions "may not even try" against Geelong in Friday's NAB Cup semi-fi
Brisbane Lions veteran Chris Johnson has played down coach Leigh Matthews' comment that the Lions "may not even try" against Geelong in Friday's NAB Cup semi-final at Telstra Dome, reassuring supporters instead that the team will be going all-out to win.A furious Matthews made the comment in the wake of last week's NAB Cup quarter-final victory over the Western Bulldogs when he discovered his team would be required to travel for a third week in a row.On match-eve at a media conference in Melbourne, Johnson was quick to put his coach's views in context."I think it was just a bit of nerves or whatever after the game, a bit of banter, but I think Leigh's looking at it now like every other team," Johnson said."We support this competition, it's a great competition and we want to showcase our young fellas to get out there and have a go and let our members see them."We’re going to try to win as much as possible."After being scheduled to play in Cairns in the first week and Melbourne last week, Johnson conceded the players have found the travel an ordeal, but he said it hasn't shown on the track."It takes its toll on the guys, they get a bit flat, but … our training's been good and bubbly," he said."It’s just more the sleep, you lose a bit of sleep from the travel. Having a late game and having to fly out the next morning, you don't get into your normal routine, the recovery and stuff like that."Johnson said the selection of the club's best available line-up was a clear sign the Lions were serious about winning their way through to the NAB Cup Grand Final.He conceded that ruckman-forward Jamie Charman, who is nursing an achilles tendon injury, would be missed.
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Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews has resisted the temptation to rest his leading players for Friday's NAB Cup semi-final against Geelong at Telstra Dome desp