BRISBANE has changed the day of its main training session in the build-up to Saturday's qualifying final against Richmond – but there's a method to the madness.

A typical week for the Lions this season has included the main session on a Thursday morning, but this week it will be 48 hours earlier on Tuesday. 

They know it works.

The Lions at training on Monday. Picture: AFL Photos

Following a disastrous round 12 loss to Carlton, the Lions reviewed the match as normal, gave the players four days off from Thursday to Sunday, returned on Monday and had main training on Tuesday. 

They flogged St Kilda the following week and then ran off nine straight wins before a round 23 loss to the Tigers.

Brisbane has followed the exact same format this time. 

"We've done a pretty similar process," lanky forward Eric Hipwood said on Monday.

"In the last few years we've come off the bye pretty well. 

"We are a really, really young group and most of us have played a lot of games this year, we haven't had too many changes in the team. 

"To have that break just before finals is huge for us, to have that little mental refresher is pretty important."

Hipwood is right, since Chris Fagan has taken over as coach, Brisbane has generally performed well after a break.

They thrashed Fremantle in 2017 after a bye, were competitive in a loss to Greater Western Sydney in 2018, and easily handled the Saints this year. 

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They've also won two of three opening rounds – which follows a post pre-season bye – in the same timeframe. 

Hipwood said bringing the main session forward allowed the refreshed players a chance to train at higher intensity. 

"I'm a big believer in you play the way you train, so I'll be going balls-out at training that's for sure," he said.