Brisbane has five days to prepare to take revenge on Geelong after one-point heart-breaker

It was the most controversial finish of the AFL season, but Chris Fagan says his Lions are not out for revenge on the Cats

• Everything has fallen into place for Tasmanian Chris Fagan’s 100th game as coach of the Brisbane Lions
• North Melbourne secures six Tasmanian players

BRISBANE coach Chris Fagan does not feel like he owes Geelong payback after their controversial one-point heart-breaker in round two as the Lions prepare to meet the Cats at the Gabba in a Thursday night blockbuster.

Geelong won the match after what many believed was an umpiring howler _ a missed holding the ball decision a few metres from Brisbane’s goal _ but Fagan was not buying into retribution.

“Fages” was happy just to leave Blundstone Arena after his Lions downed a dogged North Melbourne by 23 points to deliver him victory to mark his 100th game as coach in his home town in front of family, friends, and against his mate and former Brisbane colleague, David Noble, in an all-Tasmanian coaching faceoff.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 19: Deven Robertson of the Lions is tackled by Cameron Zurhaar of the Kangaroos during the round 14 AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Brisbane Lions at Blundstone Arena on June 19, 2021 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Fagan’s attention now turns to Geelong, but not because he feels like they owe them one.

“I don’t look at games that way,” he said.

“It seems like that game was years ago.

“We just want to go out and play well against a high-quality team, who are an excellent chance to win a premiership this year.

“If we want to be the best team we have to beat the best, so these opportunities are great to test yourself and find out where you are at.”

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 19: Jack Ziebell of the Kangaroos and Lachie Neale of the Lions compete for the ball during the round 14 AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Brisbane Lions at Blundstone Arena on June 19, 2021 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Brisbane’s Brownlow Medalist Lachie Neale said Fagan gave his miss-firing onballers a “bake” at half-time but Fagan said it was just a reality check.

The Kangaroos ruled in clearances and contested possessions early in their round 14 contest but the boys from Brisbane got down and dirty in a wet second half to take control.

“I don’t know if it was a bake – we had a strong talk about where we were at and the fact that we hadn’t done as well at clearances as we needed to, particularly the centre bounce,” Fagan said.

“We might have been in front but we weren’t getting any meterage so we needed to go to work on that. Sometimes players need a wakeup.

“We have just had a couple of weeks off and that can be challenging at times.

“It was a good game just to prepare us for Geelong on Thursday night so that is going to be a tough test.”

The absence of skipper Dayne Zorko leaves the Lions a man down in the middle.

“We’d rather have Dayne in the team, but guys like Dev Robertson, Jaxon Prior, Hugh McCluggage, Jarryd Lyons lifted tonight, and Lachie Neale was good,” Fagan said.

“With weight of numbers in there, they did a really good job and it will be nice to have ‘Zorks’ back for Thursday night because he’s an inspirational player and tends to break open the play.”