‘When the time for stability was needed, he delivered’: Jonathan Brown supports Fagan’s coaching approach

Jonathan Brown says Chris Fagan has survived the rockiest point of his coaching tenure with Brisbane, as the Lions champion prepares to coach a team of his own, the Hampden League’s Under-23.

BRISBANE champion Jon Brown says Lions coach Chris Fagan has withstood the rockiest period of his coaching career by providing timely stability and not “bullshitting” his players about their on-field situation.

Brown will on Saturday coach the Hampden League’s Under-23 interleague side against a Ballarat side coached by Anthony Koutoufides in Warrnambool as he gives that region’s talent a shine.

As he takes on that role for the fifth year following in the footsteps of his father, who coached interleague for Hampden, it has given him time to reflect on Fagan’s fortunes.

The Lions started the season 2-5 but have surged into the eight, with Brown backing Fagan’s demeanour despite calls for him to be moved on.

He was able to assure his players their style was holding up but their goal kicking was the chief concern, refusing to blink in the eye of the storm.

“When the time for stability was needed, he delivered,” Brown said.

“He got knocked for it and there were calls for his head and calls for coaching changes, but he saw it through. That is his personality and when the team needed it most, he provided it.

“There were calls that he might have lost his group and that he wasn’t the right man for the job but it was absolutely premature.

“He is a realist. At the end of the day the numbers were what they were. It was a simple explanation for the team. That is what Fages was trying to sell to his group and he wasn’t bullshitting them. Players are too smart for that, they have too much access to numbers and trends that you can’t bullshit them. So the message was spot on.

Jonathan Brown backs Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“They have as good a chance as anyone outside Carlton and Sydney for the top four. They had a draw which neutralised their percentage but in all honesty percentage is a great indicator of form and theirs is the second-best in the league. It’s a great indicator of where they are at.”

Brown’s Hampden league was knocked off by Koutoufides’ Ballarat in Ballarat last year so he is seeking retribution for his players for the Saturday 4,15pm clash in Warrnambool.

“There will be beautiful conditions on Saturday twilight. I love it, my old man coached interleague and it’s good to get back and help provide an opportunity for the young fellas. There is plenty of talent in the country leagues and some of these guys aren’t afforded an opportunity for some reason to make it at AFL level. I would like to see it earlier in the year if there was a statewide bye. Have it before an AFL curtain raiser. We can do a better job with that so we can provide recruiters with an opportunity to see young talent around the country.”