Covid-19 has gifted Lions coach Chris Fagan his milestone 100th game on home soil in Hobart

Everything has fallen into place for Tasmanian Chris Fagan’s 100th game as coach of the Brisbane Lions – the only thing missing is a win over North Melbourne.

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IT’S the perfect storm for Tasmanian Chris Fagan to coach his 100th game of AFL against his friend and former Lions colleague David Noble in a game moved from Melbourne to his home town ground Blundstone Arena on Saturday.

But to complete the picture, Fagan knows the Lions must bring their best against North Melbourne, a side with an imposing eight wins from its past 11 games in Hobart and who pushed ladder leader Melbourne in Hobart in round seven and almost toppled the Giants there last Sunday but had to settle for a draw.

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan at Blundstone Arena. Picture: Chris Kidd

Fagan – who gave the first of his 18 game tickets to mum Beth – looked at home as he paced Blundstone watching his Lions on their captain’s run.

“There have been a lot of people from Tassie who have helped me over the years so it’s nice to have this milestone game here,” Fagan said.

“It’s especially good for my family – mum just lives just along the road so this is something she didn’t expect to be able to do.

“She can now come to the game and feel a part of it.”

Fagan can see the work Noble is doing at North Melbourne, which might be going unnoticed to the untrained eye.

“’Nobes’ spent a lot of time with us and helped set up what we’ve got going at Brisbane now,” he said.

“He’s doing a good job with North. You can see them improving every week, so it will be a good challenge for us and I’m sure he’s looking forward to it as much as I am.”

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan at Blundstone Arena. Picture: Chris Kidd

Brisbane has plenty of Tasmanian flavour besides Fagan, with former North Launceston premiership mastermind Zane Littlejohn an assistant-coach, four-time premiership Hawk Grant Birchall in defence and Lauderdale lad Mitch Robinson in the midfield.

“It’s a really good opportunity for Tasmanians to come and have a look at two of the really great players to come from here,” Fagan said.

“I don’t know how much longer ‘Birch’ and ‘Robbo’ are going to play, but it would be nice for locals to come and have one last look at them here.”

Brisbane is nervous about how North Melbourne’s in-form defensive trio – Josh Walker, Robbie Tarrant and Ben McKay – will match up against its Three Peaks in attack – Joe Daniher, Eric Hipwood and Daniel McStay.

“Those North boys are experienced guys and most of them have played 100 or 200 games of AFL footy so they know how to play, and they’ve played a fair bit of footy together,” Fagan said.

“They will be tough for us to overcome.”

As for Noble’s “insider trading” on Brisbane’s game style and set-up, Fagan would not disclose his plan to throw him off the scent.

“I’m not that tricky as a coach,” Fagan said.

“He knows our players really well but I’m not sure if that helps or not – it didn’t help me when we played Hawthorn early days.”