The Lions, touted pre-season as the side to take it up to Essendon, are, for a variety of reasons, struggling to keep afloat after a dismal start. It's simple really.
Football is about winning.
Matthews bristles at suggestions the Lions can't win away from home, but the facts are blatantly obvious. At home the Lions have won 30, drawn two and lost 16 of 48 played. In 50 matches on the road they have won only 17 and lost 33. Significantly, Brisbane have been on the road for seven of their first nine matches, which includes five games in the Ansett Cup pre-season competition in which they reached the final. They played only one Ansett Cup game at home compared to four out of five for eventual champions Port Adelaide.