AS BRISBANE prepares for its first preliminary final in 16 years, triple premiership champion Simon Black has some simple advice for the current group.
"Enjoy the pressure."
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Black said he was like any other Lions fan watching Friday night's win over Richmond, "jumping around the loungeroom", as they broke a 15-match hoodoo against the Tigers.
The victory piloted Brisbane to outright premiership favourites as it awaits the winner of Saturday night's semi-final between Geelong and Collingwood as its next opponent.
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Black said the Lions had to embrace what was ahead.
"They've played a couple of big finals last year, got over a massive hoodoo on the weekend, they're ready, well prepared, and have got great experience," Black told AFL.com.au.
"Enjoy the occasion, enjoy the moment and enjoy the pressure.
"As Leigh (Matthews) used to say, 'it's an opportunity you're born to do'.
"You've got to relish the opportunity and flip any nerves or pressure with the big stage into a positive."
Black said the 2001 preliminary final win over Richmond, which put the Lions into the first of four successive Grand Finals, was his fondest memory of playing at the Gabba.
The Brownlow Medal and Norm Smith Medal winner keeps a close eye on the team.
He enjoys watching Lachie Neale – who is heavily favoured to join him as a winner of 'Charlie' – and Neale's good mate Lincoln McCarthy for his unheralded work at ground level in Brisbane's forward line.
"I think they've got numerous strings to their bow.
"Defensively they've got far better and there's great avenues to goal.
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"They hunt the opposition, they hunt and get the ball back … they're the most entertaining side to watch."
Black is the Premiership Cup Ambassador and will be in Cairns on Thursday and Friday to start a tour that will head down the Queensland coastline.
Premiership Cup Tour Dates
Cairns: Thursday 8th and Friday 9th October
Townsville: Saturday 10th, Sunday 11th, and Monday 12th October
Mackay: Tuesday 13th October
Rockhampton: Wednesday 14th October
Gladstone: Wednesday 14th October
Toowoomba: Friday 16th October
Gold Coast: Saturday 17th October
