Brisbane Lions have plenty in common with NRL champions Melbourne Storm

BRISBANE Lions coach Chris Fagan says an afternoon spent at Melbourne Storm was the validation he needed for player welfare and retention in a non-heartland state.

Cameron Rayner has extended his contract with Brisbane. Picture: AAP

BRISBANE Lions coach Chris Fagan says an afternoon spent at Melbourne Storm was the validation he needed for player welfare and retention in a non-heartland state.

Fagan sought out the NRL heavyweight while in Melbourne last September, keen to crosscheck the Lions’ safeguards against the most successful football — any code — club in Australia.

Storm has built a reputation over the past two decades for attracting players from NRL strongholds and keeping them in the Melbourne AFL bubble.

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“We’re an AFL team in an NRL and rugby dominated area so anything we can learn from them that can help us do it better than we currently do it (is important),” Fagan told the Herald Sun.

But what delighted the second-year Lions coach the most were the similarities and not the differences.

Fagan has transformed the Lions’ culture over the past 24 months, inviting players and staff to take ownership in Brisbane.

Chris Fagan is confident the Lions are doing the right things. Picture: Getty Images

His experience at Hawthorn during the golden Alastair Clarkson era taught Fagan the “two most important” planks for good clubs.

“I walked away from (Storm) pretty much convinced ... it’s a good enough club if they (players) feel like they’re improving, if they’re cared for, they’re probably the two most important things,” Fagan said.

“I think Melbourne Storm have done that exceptionally well, their player leaders have driven the culture a fair bit, that’s helped as well, for us they were probably not so much new things but reinforcement that we’re on the right track with where we’re heading with our group.”

Among the new initiatives implemented at the Lions is a Whatsaap text message group for players’ partners and families — “Partners of the Pride”.

Storm has used a similar group for several years, initiated by skipper Cameron Smith’s wife Barb, it is a support network for the families throughout the season.

When a player joins Storm, his partner gets added to the Whatsaap group.

Hugh McCluggage is one of several youngsters to have recommited with the Lions. Picture: AAP

The shift under Fagan in Brisbane has already paid dividends in retention, with Cameron Rayner, Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry among talented Victorians to commit to new contracts.

Draftees Eric Hipwood, Harris Andrews, Ben Keays, Daniel McStay and Cedric Cox have also accepted long-term extensions.

The Lions were tarred by a “go-home” reputation after a messy 2013 off-season resulted in five players, including future All-Australians Sam Docherty and Elliot Yeo, Jared Polec, Billy Longer and Patrick Karnezis, leave the Den.

But in the past three seasons, only Josh Schache, former No.2 pick, has defected south.

“You can say that you’re doing all these things but the evidence is that by and large your players stay,” Fagan said.

“I think that whole issue they talk about the go-home factor, I think it was associated with Brisbane 2-3 years ago, it’s probably a little bit unfair, all clubs lose a player occasionally to go home factor.”

Josh Schache is now at the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy said swapping ideas with AFL clubs could only benefit the club.

“We don’t see ourselves as competitors to the AFL,” Donaghy said.

“If there’s clubs that want to pick our brain on certain things we’re more than happy to share and trade and swap ideas and challenge each other.”

Storm already has strong AFL relationships with Melbourne sports’ precinct neighbours Melbourne and Collingwood, as well as A-League powerhouse Victory and the Super Rugby Rebels.