Brisbane coach defends decision of senior players to step down after poor form

After questions were asked when two Brisbane veterans dropped themselves, coach Chris Fagan gave a clear response.

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan says Daniel Rich and Jack Gunston remain key planks of the Lions’ premiership push. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan says he wants veteran duo Jack Gunston and Daniel Rich back playing when the Lions get to the finals and their decision to drop themselves was overblown.

Gunston, a premiership player at Hawthorn who moved to the Lions this season and Rich, a club best and fairest winner and All-Australian, won’t play for the near future after having frank conversations with their coach last week.

They are both entering a solid training block and Fagan said they remained key planks of Brisbane’s premiership push.

While some pundits questioned whether their decision to step down was mutual, Fagan said the extended fitness work would best serve the Lions come the finals.

“There was more made of it than should have been made of it to be honest,” Fagan said on Thursday.

“It was just (about) giving those blokes a bit of a break from playing and helping them build their fitness levels back up because they’ve been carrying some injuries.

Daniel Rich is in a training block. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

“They’re training well. Not sure how long it will be before they play again.

“We want to give them the best chance to play their best football when we arrive at that time.

“We’re not in finals yet so we’re not thinking that far ahead – we have to win enough games to qualify – but the bottom line is, we want them playing their best football, whenever that is, and we’re giving them the best chance to do that.”

Fagan confirmed midfielder Hugh McCluggage, who suffered a serious concussion in a tackle that resulted in a three-match suspension for Hawthorn captain James Sicily, would play against St Kilda on Friday night and was showing no ill effects.

“He’s trained all week, passed all his concussion protocols and everything seems to be normal with him, so he’ll be back in the team,” he said.

“He’s just another good cog in the midfield – he’s one of the best ball users inside 50 in the competition, if not the best, so he always adds a lot to our team.”

Hugh McCluggage was badly concussed against Hawthorn. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

But Brisbane won’t bring back former captain Dayne Zorko, who is still getting over a calf injury.

“I don’t think he’ll get up for this week – better chance for next week’s game,” Fagan said.

“He’s just had to rest up a little bit … doing lots of alternative types of aerobic work, but I think he’ll be starting to train today (Thursday) and over the weekend.

“Zorks is one of those guys that loves playing, so he’s always frustrated when he’s injured, but in the long run (keeping him out) will probably be good for him.”

Originally published as Brisbane coach defends decision of senior players to step down after poor form