Lions coach Chris Fagan calls for a ‘trademark’ Brisbane performance against last-placed Eagles

The Brisbane Lions won’t “disrespect” AFL cellar dwellers West Coast by contemplating a huge win at the Gabba on Saturday.

Chris Fagan wants his Lions side to respect the last-placed West Coast Eagles. Picture: Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has told his players that any winning margin will suffice against AFL easybeats West Coast despite Saturday’s Gabba clash looming as a golden opportunity for the Lions to further boost their percentage.

The last-placed Eagles travel to the “Gabbatoir” with just one win from 15 games this season and less than two weeks after being demolished by 171 points by the Swans in Sydney.

While they restored some pride in Perth last Sunday in losing by just eight points to St Kilda, the Eagles should be easy pickings for the third-placed Lions, who last week were 81-point home winners over Richmond.

That percentage boost was welcomed in the race for a top-two finish and two finals series games at the Gabba, where the Lions haven’t lost this season.

Another significant percentage increase on Saturday would prove handy; however, Fagan said his players could not afford to think that way.

“I think everybody talks about that – I don’t,” the Lions coach said.

“Straight after the game last week we talked about the idea that the only thing that matters this week is getting the win, getting the four points.

“When you start thinking about things like percentage, you take your eye off the process and start thinking too much about the result.

“It’s disrespectful to the opposition too, so that’s not on our radar at all.

“We just want to play well and play a trademark-style game, and hopefully we come away with the win.”

However, despite being wary of taking a complacent attitude into the game, the Lions have still elected to rest midfielder Jarrod Berry, who has a tight hamstring in one of four changes from last week.

Jarrod Berry will miss Brisbane’s battle with West Coast. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

When asked if Berry would have played had the match been a final, Fagan said: “He was pretty close. We might have pushed but i’s better at this point in time to look after your players.

“I would expect that he’d be available for selection next week (against Melbourne at the MCG, but you never know with hamstrings.”

Fagan was less confident about star recruit Josh Dunkley, who has been ruled out of Saturday’s clash with a calf injury.

“We’re not going to take a risk with him. He’s a very important player to us,” Fagan said of the former Western Bulldog.

Dunkley’s injury has led to the elevation of forgotten man Jarryd Lyons.

“He’s a more than adequate replacement for Josh on the back of weeks and weeks and weeks of strong form in the reserves,” Fagan said.

“If they was ever a bloke that deserved to be picked in the AFL team this week, it’s Jarry Lyons.”

Berry and Dunkley will be joined on the sidelines by Callum Ah Chee (concussion) and Linc McCarthy (suspended), while last week’s substitute Darcy Fory has been omitted.

Recalled along with Lyons are Irishman James Madden, former skipper Dayne Zorko and ex-Hawthorn star Jack Gunston, who hasn’t played since being dropped after Brisbane’s 25-point loss to the Hawks on June 10.

“We’ve lost two forwards from last week’s team in Linc McCarthy and Call Ah Chee. Both of those guys played well, so we were looking for forward-line players to replace them, so therefore Jack and ‘Zorks’ have got an opportunity,” Fagan said.

“It would have been a very difficult task to change the team last week if we’d not had any injuries, but that’s not the case. We’ve got three and a suspension, so that’s the door for some others to get an opportunity.”

But not veteran defender Daniel Rich, who was also dropped after the loss to Hawthorn

Rich will instead play for the Lions’ VFL side on Saturday against the Northern Bullants in Melbourne.

“I just want to see him play Daniel Rich-style footy – nothing more, nothing less,” Fagan said.

Originally published as Lions coach Chris Fagan calls for a ‘trademark’ Brisbane performance against last-placed Eagles