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 against the Cats.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Everything falls into place for Fagan’s 100th game coaching Lions
- North Melbourne secures six Tasmanian players
BRISBANE coach Chris Fagan does not feel like he owes Geelong payback after the controversial one-point heartbreaker 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 face-off.
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.”
Brisbane’s Brownlow Medallist 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 wake up.
“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.”
Ex-Bomber Daniher learning to run with the Lions
FORMER Bomber Joe Daniher is still learning how to run with the Lions but Brisbane bad boy Mitch Robinson said the lanky forward has been worth his weight in gold.
“Robbo” reckons Daniher has had an immediate impact at Brisbane and his experience has been invaluable on and off the field.
The 108-game, 191-goal former Essendon forward averages 15 disposals a game, 11.3 kicks, 5.2 marks and 1.6 goals at Brisbane.
“Joe and Eric [Hipwood] are working well together,” Robinson said.
“Joe is still working his way into the team but he is playing some great footy and Eric is leading our goal kicking so they are both doing their part.
“Joe’s getting up and down the ground really well.
“He’s having career-best stats for disposals up the ground and being a connector for us.
“We really enjoy having him in the team and he’s putting a lot into our meetings as well, so his experience has been really good for us.”
Fourth on the ladder behind Melbourne, Bulldogs and Geelong, all threatening to lock down home finals, Brisbane must bank a win over North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena on Saturday.
“We are playing some really good footy and we know our best can match it with the best, we’ve just got to make sure we are consistent,” Robinson said.
“We played a great half against Melbourne and they over-ran us in the second half.
“The bye came at a good time and we are looking forward to playing North Melbourne.”
The last time Robinson played on Blundstone was in 2006 when he suited up for Tasmania’s now defunct VFL team the Devils.
“That was my last game here and I probably got pumped, so hopefully that doesn’t happen tomorrow,” he said.
“Since I’ve been at the Lions I gotten to play in Launceston and now I get to play on my home deck in front of my family and friends.
“I’ve got 25 tickets for them, and it’s great for Tassie. We are really appreciative of being allowed to play here and hopefully we can get a win for Brisbane fans and my family.”
Tassie Kangaroo Tarryn Thomas stunned at draw
IT was his first draw at any level so Tarryn Thomas was not sure how to react when North Melbourne and GWS could not be separated in their AFL thriller at Blundstone Arena last Sunday.
The 21-year-old Tasmanian Kangaroo is sure about the lessons learned from that match, and believes not only will North Melbourne win another game this season, Thomas says the Kangaroos can play finals in the not-too-distance future.
North’s next chance to get only their second win of the second comes at the same venue tomorrow when Kangas coach David Noble goes up against Brisbane and his former Lions workmate and fellow-Tasmanian Chris Fagan.
“It was a strange feeling last week because it was the first draw of my career so I didn’t know how to feel or what to think,” Thomas said.
“We should have won that game.
“We went away from the basics and what we had been doing that was working.
“When GWS got on top in the midfield and around the ground it’s pretty hard to stop a team with that kind of roll-on.”
Giant Daniel Lloyd kicked the two goals that levelled the scores and had another running shot from the boundary with seconds to spare when any score would have clinched GWS the game.
“I was on the bench so I was sitting right behind the kick,” Thomas said.
“I was looking at the time and looking at the score. I was hoping it would go out on the full and thankfully it did.”
Brisbane is fourth on the ladder behind Melbourne, Western Bulldogs and Geelong, making them a tough prospect for the last-placed Kangaroos.
“The Lions are quality team so we will have to be at the top of our game,” Thomas said.
“We need to stick to our process and trust each other and believe in how we play.
“If we continue to do that, wins will come our way.”
Devils Girls put their best foot forward
Two of Tasmania’s finest Devils Girls tested and interviewed ahead of the National Draft - we reveal some of the questions AFLW recruiters asked them.
Next Daniel Geale? Tassie prospect prepares for his biggest fight
An undefeated Tasmanian boxer who has ‘the potential to be the next Daniel Geale’ is ready to show why in the biggest fight of his professional career this weekend. Go inside his preparations.