AFL 2020: Lions coach Chris Fagan says Brisbane’s goal-kicking problem needs fixing
The Lions are flying high on the AFL ladder, but they are kicking too many behinds for coach Chris Fagan’s liking.
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Lions coach Chris Fagan fears Brisbane’s ongoing goal-kicking yips will eventually cost them a match.
Percentage is all that separates the second-placed Lions with top-of-the-table Port Adelaide, with both sides on 24 points from eight matches.
The Lions kicked seven goals and 11 behinds in their four-point win over Melbourne on Sunday night, taking their season goals-behinds tally to 79-98.
“We slipped back into inaccuracy last night,” Fagan
“It’s a critical factor in the game. It’s the most important statistic.
“We’re fortunate at this point in time, I think we’re the most inaccurate team in the competition, that it hasn’t bitten us on the backside in one of the games.
“It’s something we constantly practice ... it won’t stay that way forever.”
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Fagan said despite COVID-19 enforced training restrictions making it tougher to concentrate on goal-kicking practice, it had been an “enormous” focus in recent weeks.
“The last two or three weeks my main job at training’s been just grabbing blokes for shots on goal at different times in drills so that they’re random, just like they are in a game,” he said.
“It’s not just necessarily the actual skill of shooting for goal, it’s where you’re taking your shots from as well.
“We’re tying to get the ball into better positions to take easier shots as well.”
Fagan felt relieved after Brisbane held on to deny the fast-finishing Demons in wet conditions at Metricon Stadium.
“It becomes a bit of a slog at this time of the year. We were able to steady enough in those last couple of minutes to take the points,” hetold SEN.
He admitted the Lions got caught up in the Demons’ “helter skelter” game in the final quarter and said it would serve as a good lesson for Friday night when the Lions returned to Metricon Stadium to meet Essendon.
“They play in a very similar fashion. They explode from the back half and try to take you on, and get you with slingshots.” Fagan said.
Fagan is resigned to being without Daniel Rich on Friday after the experienced defender was forced off against Melbourne with a hamstring injury.
“We play in five days so I don’t think he’ll play on Friday night. We’ll know the extent of the damage later on today,” he said.
Among those in contention to replace Rich in the Lions’ 22 include Alex Witherden and Noah Answerth.
Originally published as AFL 2020: Lions coach Chris Fagan says Brisbane’s goal-kicking problem needs fixing