Fagan lauds ‘best ever’ campaign as Lions lock in third
Murray Wenzel |
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan wasn’t bothered by the poor kicking that almost cost his reigning premiers a top-four finish, declaring their defence the “best ever” regular season of his nine in charge.
The hosts defied more Gabba wobbles to edge past Hawthorn and lock in the second-chance in their AFL title defence, winning 11.23 (89) to 11.13 (79) in Dayne Zorko’s 300th game on Sunday.
The hosts began with eight straight behinds and then, with the game at their mercy, kicked nine consecutive points and another out on the full in a tense Sunday night high-stakes battle.
The Hawks would have shot to fourth with victory but will instead begin the finals from seventh or eighth, depending on the result of Wednesday’s last home and away game between current ninth-placed Gold Coast and Essendon.
The Lions were 7-4 at the Gabba but lost just two games on the road in a 16-6-1 season that defied regular injuries and a hazardous draw.
“It’s probably been our best ever,” Fagan said ahead of a seventh consecutive finals appearance.
The premiers have missed the finals in three of the last four seasons while the fourth – Melbourne in 2022 – exited September in straight sets after making the top four.
“I’m really proud of the boys that they’ve been able to withstand all the pressure, the scrutiny everyone, picking their game to pieces when you when you win a flag, and here we are,” Fagan said.
“We’ve earned a double chance again.”
Hugh McCluggage (32 touches, two goals, three assists) and Darcy Wilmot (27 touches, eight rebound 50s) were brilliant for the hosts while Jack Ginnivan (23 disposals, two goals) was influential for the Hawks.
His nerveless set shot with seven minutes to play made it a two-point game.
But Brisbane did just enough, Bruce Reville snapping from the pocket after Karl Amon was penalised for insufficient intent when his handball deep in defence missed its mark.
McCluggage then set up Cam Rayner for the goal that finally broke the Hawks.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell didn’t bite on the Amon free kick.
“All I can say, really, about umpiring is they made less mistakes than we did, so I’ll worry about the ones we can control,” he said.
“They missed their chances with shots on goal. We missed our chances with not getting shots that we were in positions where we really should have.”
Earlier Charlie Cameron (two goals), Zac Bailey and Sam Day all hit the post as Brisbane mustered just eight behinds in a goalless first quarter.
Mabior Chol didn’t have the same issues at the other end, marking and kicking truly three times as the visitors backed their swift ball movement to open up the hosts’ defence.
McCluggage ended the pain with an early second-quarter goal that was answered by a pin-point Jack Gunston (two goals).
Brisbane then briefly hit top gear, Jaspa Fletcher scoring from a stoppage, Kai Lohmann kicking two in a row in his latest injury return, and Cameron accurate from his set shot.
Logan Morris kicked a goal off the deck to begin the second half and when Cameron snapped his second the hosts were threatening to rip the game open.
Again they would rue their misses, with the Lions kicking nine straight behinds and another out on the full in a tedious third term.
The margin was back to five when the Hawks struck first after the last break before McCluggage again broke the drought.
“We didn’t let it get us down,” Fagan said of his side’s kicking.
“That probably would have been a little unfair if we hadn’t won the game.”
AAP
