Brisbane Lions vow to bring finals-like intensity to every game after shock loss

The Brisbane Lions can still finish top two on the AFL ladder but a shock loss has delivered some significant lessons.

Chris Fagan says the Lions have learnt their lesson. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

After making a costly “mistake” in a shock loss to the Gold Coast Suns two weeks ago, Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has demanded his players bring a finals-type intensity into Saturday’s Gabba clash against Adelaide and every game going forward to flex their premiership muscle.

Convincingly outgunned by the Suns last month in a shock QClash loss, the Lions responded by beating a desperate Fremantle side by three points in Perth last Sunday.

Brisbane’s win in the west ended the Dockers’ faint hopes of playing finals football, and the third-placed Lions can again hurt another side’s chances of finishing in the top eight by beating the Crows.

“It is like every game’s a final, and that’s the mistake we made against the Gold Coast,” Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said.

“We underestimated how desperate they were to keep their finals’ hopes alive, and they went the journey in that game, and we didn’t quite, but I thought we learnt a lesson from that in the Fremantle game last week.

“They challenged us, they bought their best, not just their best footy, but their best effort, and we were able to be resilient enough to stay in the fight and win that game.

Chris Fagan urges his troops on in the loss to the Gold Coast. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“We get another opportunity to put that into practice this week with Adelaide, who are only four points out of the top eight, and they’ve built a really good percentage, so they know they’re a real live chance.

“We know it’s going to be a finals-like game this week. We know what’s coming. The last few weeks have prepared us well.”

The Crows will take confidence into the contest, having beaten the Lions by 17 points at Adelaide Oval in May.

“It was an interesting game. It was a game that we could have easily won,” Fagan said.

“We had (three) more shots on goal. If you look at all the key performance indicators … we did particularly well. We just didn’t complete our work that night.

The Lions got back on the winners list last weekend in Perth. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“There were lots of things that we did that were right that we want to do again. We just want to finish off our work a little bit better.

“They were just a bit better at turning their inside 50s into scores.”

Fagan expected Oscar McInerney to return this weekend after the towering ruckman missed the trip to Perth because of an ankle injury.

McInerney’s inclusion is set to come at the expense of the unlucky Darcy Fort, who more than held his own against the Dockers.

“(McInerney) has been our No.1 ruckman all year, but if he’s not right, we’re fortunate enough to have Darcy Fort because he’s a really good player as well,” Fagan said.

Half-back Keidean Coleman will miss another match with an eye injury.

Originally published as Brisbane Lions vow to bring finals-like intensity to every game after shock loss