AFL: Richmond not the `Tom Lynch Footy Club’, says Lions coach Chris Fagan
Lions coach Chris Fagan won’t fall into the trap of under-estimating a Richmond team without Tom Lynch.
AFL
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Brisbane coach Chris Fagan says Richmond will be just as tough to beat in Friday night’s qualifying final despite the absence of key forward Tom Lynch.
While Lions star Harris Andrews is set to return from a hamstring injury for the Gabba clash, Lynch’s own hamstring problem will sideline him for another week.
Lynch’s absence should work in the Lions’ favour in their bid to beat the Tigers for the first time in 11 years.
But Fagan said the Tigers’ “system” meant they could more than handle being without Lynch.
“You guys were asking me about Harris Andrews a few weeks ago and I said we’re not the Harris Andrews Football Club, and I’m pretty sure the Richmond Footy Club aren’t the Tom Lynch Footy Club,” the Lions coach said.
“They’ve proven over and over again over the last three years that they can cope with players out of their side because they have a very strong system that they believe in.
“I’m sure that won’t change Richmond, and for us, it’ll just be being prepared for the best Richmond can offer.
“Richmond have got a system they believe in and we’ve got a system that we believe in.
“I‘m not sure they are supernatural. They are just human beings like we are.
“There’s little bits and pieces of the game that we’re always trying to get better ... (but) we’ll be going with what we do well and trusting that will get the job done.”
https://twitter.com/brisbanelions/status/1310427040047226882
Fagan confirmed Andrews was set to play for the first time since injuring his hamstring in Brisbane’s eight-point win over Collingwood on September 4.
“Right now it’s looking positive,” he said.
“By the time we get to Friday night, it’s 28 days since he injured a hamstring, which is plenty of time for a hamstring to repair, given 21 days is usually the standard.
“Provided he continues to train like he has over the past 10 days, he’s likely to play. If Harris Andrews is fit, he plays because he’s in our best team.”
Fagan said the return of Andrews would come at the expense of emerging talent Jack Payne, who has played in Brisbane’s past three matches.
“He’s been great, The three or four games he’s played have been a fantastic experience for him,” Fagan said of Payne.
“We know if he does go out of the side and we have to call on him again during the finals, we know that he can get the job done, and more importantly we know now that he’s going to be a very good player for us in the future, so it’s a win all round.”
Fagan also confirmed the return of midfielder Jarrod Berry from a shoulder injury.
“He’s been training fully for the last two weeks,” he said.
Originally published as AFL: Richmond not the `Tom Lynch Footy Club’, says Lions coach Chris Fagan