Harris Andrews ready to take a big step forward in 2019

Will Harris Andrews play as a key forward this season? The positional switch has been debated at Brisbane for over a year is now starting to look more like a case of when, not if.

Harris Andrews has played forward in two intra-club hitouts. Picture: Michael Klein

Harris Andrews as a key forward?

The positional switch Brisbane Lions coaches have debated for over a year is now starting to look more like a case of when, not if.

Andrews was on target for his first All-Australian jumper as a defender last year before copping a heavy concussion in a marking contest with Jeremy Cameron that saw the Giant cop a five-week ban.

His great strength is his intercept marking but coach Chris Fagan knows that players who can take a contested mark at the other end of the ground are worth their weight in gold.

He wants to see if Andrews can transfer his form as a defender into the attacking 50m because it would allow 200cm speedster Eric Hipwood to play his more natural game as a roaming half forward.

“They (genuine contested marking key forwards) are harder to find in AFL footy,’’ Fagan said.

“They are more valuable and if we can find someone to do that then Eric Hipwood becomes more valuable because he can use his athleticism more.’’

Harris Andrews could be turned into a forward this season. Picture: Getty Images

Andrews has played defence in four intra-club hit-outs and up forward in two, including on Friday night at Burpengary where he booted two goals.

“It is still experimental at the moment but he has looked really good,’’ Fagan said.

“You don’t just pluck things and they suddenly work, you have got to give them time to work.’’

Injuries to rugged defender Darcy Gardiner (knee), who will miss the rest of the pre-season, may have caused a temporary hiccup to the plan but once he has a healthy list, Fagan says he now has confidence the club’s defensive stocks are deep enough to continue the experiment.

“We also think we have got a few backmen now, Darcy and Marcus Adams play there, Josh Walker can too and Sam Skinner (knee) is back,’’ he said.

Andrews was knocked out last year after a collision with Jeremy Cameron. Picture: Getty Images

Youngsters Connor Ballenden and Jack Payne also shape as potential key defenders.

Andrews admits he enjoyed his cameo in the forward line late in the second QClash last year when he took some strong marks and kicked a crucial goal.

“Fages has put a huge onus on players having really good versatility,’’ Andrews said.

“We have our primary position which we spend maybe 80 per cent of our time on, which for me at the moment is still the backline.

“And then that other 20 per cent which I have as a forward, I may swing by Jed’s (forwards coach Jed Adcock) desk just to keep up with things, make sure I know what’s going on with the forwards’ structures and that sort of thing.”