Brisbane Lions coach confident MCG record won’t be a finals problem

Giving up a four-goal lead on Friday night compelled the Brisbane Lions to a 14th loss in 15 games at the MCG.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 14: Lachie Neale of the Lions looks dejected after a loss during the 2023 AFL Round 18 match between the Melbourne Demons and the Brisbane Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 14, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan is confident that his team’s worsening record at the MCG won’t serve as a mental barrier for them during the finals this year.

After blowing a 28-point lead on Friday night and snatching defeat from the jaws of victory against Melbourne, Brisbane have now lost 14 of their last 15 games at the home of football.

The Lions won‘t get another chance to exorcise their MCG demons for the remainder of the home-and-away season, and will have to wait until September for the chance to rectify their alarming form at the venue.

“The hoodoo lives on, unfortunately,” Fagan said post-match.

“It wasn’t that far away from not living on, but it does, so we just have to take that feedback and try and do a better job the next time that we play here.

“I’m not a great believer that what happens tonight, if we’re good enough to get to finals and if we have to play here again, that that’s going to be on our mind. I think we can deal with that.

“We were close tonight, about as close as you can get, but didn’t quite get there.”

The Lions look dejected (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Fagan said the defeat was “hard to cop” because his team “did a lot right”, namely dominate the ball and territory in the middle two quarters as they kicked 13 of the next 18 goals after conceding the first four.

“But at the end of the day I’d still say we didn’t deserve to win necessarily,” he said.

“At the same time I’ve got to remember that Melbourne are a good footy side, and when you play them here, you’ve got to do a lot right to win.”

Fagan didn’t sense his players felt as though the job was done early in the last quarter when they stretched their lead back out to 26 points.

“I’d pretty much sum the game up on contested possession,” he said.

“In the first and last quarters Melbourne were plus 21 on contested possessions and win by total of 39 points, and in between, we’re plus two and we win those quarters by 38 points.”

Lachie Neale of the Lions looks dejected (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Fagan was also surprised at how badly his side got beaten in the clearances (45-32).

“We’ll have a look at that, that’s been a really strong (area) for us. I think we rate probably the best coming into this game,” he said.

One of the positives for Brisbane was the performance of forward Jack Gunston who kicked three goals, which makes it nine in total for him since coming back into the team after being dropped a month ago.

“There was always that question mark on Jack, wasn’t there, that he played West Coast last week so that was viewed as a relatively easy occasion to kick six goals,” Fagan said.

“I’m not sure that it ever is ... but to come in a tough game tonight and kick three and contribute like he did, that will help him to continue to build his confidence.”

Meanwhile, Fagan believes star midfielder Josh Dunkley (calf) will be back from injury next week to face Geelong at the Gabba.