Daniel, it's said, wasn't too concerned with the Lion's den. He had faith and faith, as the saying goes, can move mountains - or curtail Lions it seems...and so for the lads this Saturday. They too must enter the Lion's den, must face this foe on unfamiliar soil, must maintain their belief in the face of adversity.

In the end it will all come down to faith.

Faith in the systems
Faith in the coaches
Faith in the roles

and most importantly
Faith in each other...this is the glue in the end...

These blokes play for each other, take joy in each other's accomplishments, trust each other, look out for each other


and these buggers are tough.

They are tough because of this connection with each other - a connection built through years of being belted from pillar to post...
They are connected through that adversity, they have shared the pain and now...now they share the joy...the belief...they exhaust themselves for each other...in the end that's really what playing for the jumper is about.
Not really about the jumper...
but about the group...the people who you have shared a journey with, people that have stood with you through the lows and now fly with you in the highs.

So yes this Saturday as we enter the Lion's den this group will have no fear - fear comes from loneliness, from feeling abandoned and alone with a threat that will overcome you - alone each would be overcome in the den, the lion's sated having feasted on the flesh.
But not for this team...not with its shared belief!

That shared belief allows you to face the fear of entering the den because each of the lads knows...knows in their heart...knows when they look into each other's eyes...they know that fear flails when it meets the pack..the pack that diminishes fear's impact by sharing the challenge...
this bluebagger pack is up for the challenge.

This bluebagger pack will enter the Lion's den and seek out the Lions. Will face them as a team, as groups within that team and as individuals in moments within the game.


That's finals - the moments...
the moments when belief is the only thing...the only thing between you and the goal.
Weiter's moment...to Dutchy's moment- to Doc's and then to Acres! Moments like pearls strung up through connection, through belief.

Not talent - at this point talent is shared by both sides.
Not a goal - both sides have the same goal
Not home ground advantage or past results...No!

It is all about belief.

This is the lesson from Barassi...the lesson of 1970! Belief!

Belief in our systems
our coaches
our players

belief that our will is the stronger...It is will that prevails!

Bluebagger will.

And after will comes the voice

comes another glorious outpouring of joy through the song...and then these players will emerge from the Lion's den

unscathed

victorious

already thinking about the next step in this club's glorious redemption!

Go Blues!

Too much religion for me danny.

Just knock the cauliflower into the Stone Age and I’ll be happy.

Faith Belief ..................... I have got faith in you Danny . I believe in you pal .

Your stuff is incredible . I might be a bogan from the deep south but i dig your stuff . Keep it going Dan . Its inspiring and uplifting .

football is a religion....

Fearless
Unbeatable
Carlton
Kings

enduring
might

Absolute
Living
Legends

Went to school in Broadie Mick, no need to worry about our bogan heritage...its a badge.

Is that Daniel the lion tamer, or Daniel our son?!