AFL round 12: Chris Fagan delivers all-time spray during ‘sloppy’ victory over North Melbourne

The Brisbane Lions were once again plagued by inaccurate kicking, and veteran coach Chris Fagan didn’t hold back during the break.

The Brisbane Lions were once again plagued by inaccurate kicking, and veteran coach Chris Fagan didn’t hold back during the break.

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan delivered a mammoth halftime spray during Saturday’s round 12 clash against North Melbourne.

Currently sitting in the top three on the AFL ladder, the Lions were outright favourites to secure four points against the 17th-placed Kangaroos on the Gold Coast.

However, inaccurate kicking once again plagued the Brisbane forwards, with several scoring opportunities butchered in the first half at Metricon Stadium.

Even though they dominated the inside 50s tally, the Lions held a narrow 3.6 (24) to 3.3 (21) after two quarters.

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Fagan was less than impressed with the mediocre performance, and the veteran coach inevitably ripped into his players during the interval. His epic spray included a series of whiteboard slaps, veins throbbing on his neck and eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

Speaking on Fox Footy, Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson loved the enthusiasm.

“I like it, I really do. He’s just trying to drive the passion,” Johnson said.

“He must have the sense that they’re feeling a bit flat in their movement and what he’s trying to achieve with them. He’s just trying to spark them up a bit.”

North Melbourne great David King responded: “He’s doing more than that. He’s saying, ‘Come on, fat heads here. Get yourselves back in the contest. This is not the profile of a top-four team. This other mob have won one game in three months – how are they still in the contest?’

“That’s what he’s saying – and he’s 100 per cent correct. The way they’re playing is just not what we’ve seen from the Lions all year.”

Lincoln McCarthy of the Brisbane Lions.

AFL LIVE SCORES: Round 12 match centres

Speaking to Fox Footy reporter Corey McKernan, Fagan gave an honest assessment of Brisbane’s first-half performance.

“North have been superior in the contested ball area,” Fagan said.

“I feel like they’ve used the ball a little bit better than us, so we need to lift in a few parts of our game to try and get away on the scoreboard.”

The Lions went on to muster an unconvincing 7.11 (53) to 8.4 (52) victory, their ninth of the 2020 season — they slide up to second spot on the AFL ladder, just behind Port Adelaide.

After the final siren, Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko conceded the team were low on energy throughout the match. Meanwhile, King bluntly labelled it a “sloppy performance” from the Lions.

Triple M presenter Poppy Penny tweeted: “Brisbane Lions off a 7 day break, into an 8 day break then into the bye with next to no travel all year … you’d expect to see some better performances from them as we get to the pointy end of the season.”

AAP reporter Oliver Caffrey cheekily posted: “Dictionary definition of winning ugly: Brisbane v North Melbourne, round 12 2020.”

Lincoln McCarthy and Oscar McInerney both snared two goals for the Lions, while Kangaroos midfielder managed a game-high 29 disposals.

In round 13, Brisbane will take on St Kilda at the Gabba next Sunday, while North Melbourne will enjoy a nine-day break before they face Collingwood in Brisbane on Monday evening.