Brisbane coach Chris Fagan wants Hugh McCluggage to be recognised for his brilliant efforts

The Brisbane Lions are stacked with stars but one stood out on Thursday night and his coach wants him recognised with higher honours.

Lions coach Chris Fagan has called for Brisbane’s “silent assassin” Hugh McCluggage to be rewarded with All-Australian selection after another superb display at the Gabba on Thursday night.

McCluggage produced a best-on-ground performance with a career-high 41 disposals, including five score assists and 11 score involvements, in Brisbane’s 18-point win over Essendon.

“Hughy McCluggage’s game was huge,” Fagan said.

“He goes about it in a quiet manner but he’s effective, a silent assassin out there.”

McCluggage, 27, has made four All-Australian squads but is yet to make the final team in his eight previous AFL seasons.

“I hope at some point in time he wins an All-Australian guernsey because he’s been such a consistent player for us for the last six years. The first couple of years he was developing.

Hugh McCluggage should be an All-Australian, Chris Fagan says. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“He’s one of those fellows who is forever trying to improve. He’s probably worked harder on the pressure defensive side of his game, both to get his body stronger but also to get involved more in that.

“That’s a part of his game that’s grown, and he’s always been really good with the ball.”

McCluggage’s influence was critical on Thursday night as the Lions were forced to dig deep after Essendon fought back from being 32 points down at quarter time to take the lead eight minutes into the final quarter.

“At this time of the year, you’re just happy to get the wins,” Fagan said.

“We did what we had to do when they got in front. There was good composure in the group just to build the ball up and to get scores.

“I like that about us. In AFL footy, every game is tough. In the end, we fought it out really well, showed good composure, and we’ll take a little bit of confidence from that.”

Lions coach Chris Fagan said the players did what they had to do in the final quarter after falling behind. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“Confidence” is also building in Kai Lohmann, who kicked three goals on Thursday after failing to boot a major in his previous six appearances this season.

“He turned the corner last week (against Hawthorn). He got his pressure game back last week, and I reckon it was there again (against Essendon) and he got a little bit of a scoreboard reward,” Fagan said of the premiership-winning forward.

“I’m just hoping for him that he gets some confidence from that because it has been difficult for him.

“He set a high bar for himself last year, he’s been injured a lot (this season). It looked like he was injured early in the game (on Thursday night).

“He hobbled off, but he was all good, and he helped us win the game.”

Originally published as Brisbane coach Chris Fagan wants Hugh McCluggage to be recognised for his brilliant efforts