Media Watch
Chris Fagan on Josh Schache return
The Courier Mail
April 5
“He’s (Schache) ready to go if we choose to pick him,” Fagan said on Wednesday.
“He did all the pre-season, he played in JLT 1 (pre-season match against Gold Coast) and he had an injury that kept him quiet for probably 10 days.
“He’s been doing a lot of training since then and obviously he played a full game on the weekend.
“There’s that competitive tension for spots in the side. There’s certainly five or six players in line for selection. Schache is one of those after a great performance.”
Lions reject ‘honourable losses’, says Fagan
afl.com.au, Michael Whiting
April 5
The Brisbane Lions have been a pleasant surprise in the opening fortnight of the season, but coach Chris Fagan is far from satisfied.
The Lions have upset Gold Coast and then led Essendon early in the final quarter before running out of legs and losing by 27 points.
All of this with an almost identical team to that which struggled to win three games in 2016 and barely avoid the wooden spoon.
But there are already two words Fagan wants stamped out of the Lions' vocabulary – honourable losses.
Brisbane’s impressive QClash win leads to another victory over the Suns
The Courier Mail, Andrew Hamilton
April 4
Brisbane's QClash win has led to another victory over the Suns, with the Lions winning a new sponsorship deal with The Coffee Club.
Both clubs were in negotiations with the Queensland-based national coffee chain.
The Coffee Club opted to go with the Lions as coaches sponsor for the next two years.
Fresh Faces
Chris Fagan has unveiled two recycled players across the first two rounds of 2017, with former Greater Western Sydney midfielder Jake Barrett playing the first two games after being elevated off the rookie list. Former Collingwood key defender Jack Frost missed Round 1 due to suspension but came straight into the side last weekend to play on Essendon swingman Cale Hooker. On Sunday, the Lions will unveil two more faces with 2016 No. 3 pick Hugh McCluggage set to make his debut, along with pick No. 17 last November Jarrod Berry. McCluggage was touted as a No. 1 pick for much of last year and is one of the best midfielders from his draft class.
Medical Report
Allen Christensen (shoulder) 2-3 weeks
Rhys Mathieson (ankle) 2-4 weeks
Sam Skinner (knee) 7 weeks
Reuben William (shoulder) 3-4 weeks
Star
Brisbane’s two Dayne’s – Beams and Zorko – have produced a blistering start to the new season, helping the Lions get off to a strong start in Queensland. New skipper Beams has led the win so far, winning the Marcus Ashcroft medal in the QClash in Round 1, before following it up with 33 possessions (11 contested) against Essendon last Saturday night. Pocket rocket Zorko has also made a bright start across the first two weeks averaging 610.4 metres gained (ranked No. 6 in the AFL) and 66.2 pressure points (ranked No. 4).
Stats that matter
It might only be a small sample size so far, but already Chris Fagan has helped improve Brisbane’s offence and defence. The Lions are averaging nearly two more goals per game, rising from 80.5 points to 91.0, as well as reducing their points against from 130.5 (ranked No. 18 in 2016) to 103.5 (No. 11).
Team
B: N. Roberton, J. Frost, D. Gardiner
HB: S. Mayes, H. Andrews, T. Cutler
C: D. Zorko, J. Berry, H. McCluggage
HF: L. Taylor, E. Hipwood, D. Rich
F: M. Robinson, J. Schache, D. McStay
R: S. Martin, D. Beams, T. Rockliff
Interchange from: T. Bell, R. Bewick, C. Beams, L. Dawson, M. Close, R. Lester, J. Barrett
