Berry backs Lions to end Swans' AFL streak

Brisbane are hopeful of ending a 10-year, 11-game losing streak when they host Sydney at the Gabba.

Jarreod Berry.

Recent Brisbane AFL re-signing Jarrod Berry was 10 years old when the Lions last beat Sydney. (AAP)

Jarrod Berry was in sixth grade when Brisbane last beat Sydney 10 years ago.

Now 21, the midfielder has just signed a four-year extension with an AFL club he says is ready to end the Swans' modern-day dominance of the Lions.

It's the first time this decade Brisbane has signed a first-round draft pick to such a lengthy deal, while his younger brother Tom has also signed a two-year extension.

"I was in grade six I think; looking back that way it is a long time ... and it's about time we turned that around," he said ahead of Saturday's twilight Gabba fixture.

"It's shifted from my first year (in 2017), when we were coming out to be competitive.

"We come out now to win every game we play, come out on the weekend and not hopefully, we expect to win."

The Lions (4-2) will start favourites at the Gabba against the Swans (1-5), but wary coach Chris Fagan knows the dangers the visitors pose when they're backs are to the wall.

The Swans snapped a six-game losing streak to start their 2017 season against the Lions, with star forward Lance Franklin booting eight goals.

He won't be in action tomorrow, nor will Lions key defender Harris Andrews as both tend to hamstring injuries.

While confident, Fagan was more tempered than Berry in his approach to the contest.

"We hope to win the game ... Sydney are a formidable opponent and with backs to the wall will come out with tremendous fight," he said.

"They're a team that's had the wood on us for a long time and we've talked about it this week, that very fact.

"It's a great challenge for us and a way we can demonstrate that development."

The coach said the twin Berry signings were significant for a club that has struggled to retain it's top-end talent in the last 10 years.

Berry returned the favour, thanking the Lions for orchestrating both contracts and paying tribute to his older teammates for easing his transition from Ballarat with best mate Hugh McCluggage.

He said both Dayne Beams and Dayne Zorko led the way, while golf with Ryan Lester and regular team dinners had contributed to the terrific culture at the club.

"I was pretty stoked ... it's hard for me to see into the future like that but for the club to show the faith is pretty awesome," he said.


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Source: AAP



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