Behind enemy lines: Fagan on Lions’ game plan
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan says expecting the Lions to bounce back at the Gabba against Adelaide would be repeating last week’s errors.
Despite showing signs of brilliance in games after heavy defeats, the Brisbane Lions are not relying on history as they look for a response in their sudden death AFL semi-final against Adelaide.
Lions coach Chris Fagan says that would simply be repeating the psychological failures of a week ago, when short-handed Sydney dominated the two-time defending premiers at the SCG.
The 53-point hiding was the Lions’ seventh since the start of the 2023 season.
Five times they have won the following week, with their only defeat a competitive one against the red-hot Fremantle earlier this year that came on the heels of their horror day out, also in Sydney, against GWS.
“If we fall for that we’ve fallen for the same thing we fell for last week,” Fagan said ahead of Saturday’s clash.
Fagan felt complacency had crept in against the Swans last weekend, repeating on Friday that “deep down in the back of their minds they just thought that this was probably going to be an easier game than it turned out to be”.
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“When you do that in elite sport, you cop it,” he said.
Last week, the Swans team had taken a hit with five players stood down until the end of the AFL season as Victoria Police investigate sexual assault allegations linked to a post-AFL match incident at East Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel.
Swans players Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon were suspended for the remainder of the season for “breaching club standards” and were not at the SCG for the club’s qualifying final against Brisbane.
“So I know you all say that (we bounce back from losses well) and credit to the group, we usually do … but it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen tomorrow,” Fagan said about tomorrow’s clash against the Crows.
“It’s all about action.”
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Brisbane has won its last five games at the Gabba against the Crows, including a 52-point procession earlier this season.
But Adelaide are flying high after a breakthrough finals defeat of Western Bulldogs a week ago with Izak Rankine starring and Josh Rachele kicking three goals.
Saturday’s winner will play Hawthorn in an MCG preliminary final next weekend.
“They’ve got some weapons, but it doesn’t come down to one player that will make the difference,” Fagan said.
“It comes down to how they respond and the collective effort.”
In the Brisbane team, small defender Noah Answerth (ankle) has been replaced by tall defender Ty Gallop, with versatile Ryan Lester likely to act as a swingman.
Fagan said he was comfortable adding height to counter key Crows forwards Taylor Walker, Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty.
And it will be the first time former Brisbane player Callum Ah Chee plays his old team the Lions. At the end of last year, Ah Chee departed the Lions to join the Crows after winning two premierships in six seasons.
“The Gabba holds a special place in my heart,” he said. “And I can’t wait to play there … and give it a red-hot crack.”
– with AAP
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