Brisbane Lions forward Sam Day has extra motivation for battle with Gold Coast Suns

Lions coach Chris Fagan says former Gold Coast Suns forward Sam Day is ‘getting better every week’ for Brisbane.

Unwanted by the Gold Coast Suns, Brisbane forward Sam Day will have a point to prove in Sunday night’s QClash at the Gabba.

That’s the belief of Lions coach Chris Fagan, who said Day would have feelings of “nervousness” and “excitement” ahead of his first competitive match against the Suns since parting way with the club at the end of last season.

Needing a replacement for the retired Joe Daniher, the Lions were quick to pounce on Day – who made 155 AFL appearances in his 14 years with Gold Coast – in November’s pre-season draft.

And while Day has kicked just two goals in six appearances for the Lions, Fagan said the 32-year-old Adelaide product had been “good” for a Brisbane team chasing a sixth win this season from seven games.

“People will look at his goal tally and say he’s only kicked a couple, but if you watch the tape and see how many he creates for others ... last week (in Brisbane’s win over St Kilda), he assisted in four other goals, so for me he played a part in five goals which is pretty significant as a forward,” the Lions coach said.

“We don’t just measure (players) on scoring output. It’s all sorts of other things, and on that score, he’s getting better every week.”

Sam Day (14) is congratulated by Brisbane teammates Levi Ashcroft and Hugh McCluggage (right) after kicking a goal. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Fagan said it was only natural that Day probably had extra motivation to perform well on Sunday night.

“Human nature would probably say that if you couldn’t get a contract and you turned up at another club, you’d want to prove the other team wrong,” he said.

“From my experience in life, whenever I changed clubs and came up against my old club, there’s always a little bit of nervousness attached to that, so no doubt he’d be feeling that sort of excitement ... (but) he’s a big boy. He’s in his 30s. He knows how to look after himself.”

Despite the extra hype surrounding the latest edition of the QClash due to both sides being among the form teams of the AFL competition, Fagan said he felt the same as he would before any game.

“A bit nervous, a bit toey, but it doesn’t make any difference to me. (The games) are all four points that you’ve got to play for. Every side presents its challenges, and in this case it’s the Gold Coast,” he said.

Sam Day celebrates a goal during his 14-year stint at the Gold Coast Suns. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Fagan said the Suns, who have won five from six this season, were the “most in-form team in the competition” based on their AFL-high percentage of 150.1.

“That means that all parts of their game are going pretty well. We know we’re up against a really strong opposition,” he said.

“It’s almost like a final.”

The Lions have made three changes to the 23-man squad that beat St Kilda by 45 points, with Jack Payne, Connor McKenna and Will McLachlan coming in for injured pair Kai Lohmann (shoulder) and Logan Morris (calf), and the omitted James Tunstill.

The Suns are set to name the same 23 that beat Sydney by 38 points at People First Stadium last Sunday.

Originally published as Brisbane Lions forward Sam Day has extra motivation for battle with Gold Coast Suns