Lions don’t need rev-up for high-stakes Saints clash

Anna Harrington | June 23, 2023

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan insists he doesn’t need to rev-up his charges and remind them what is at stake in their crunch AFL clash with St Kilda.

The fourth-placed Lions sit four points clear of the chasing pack which includes the fifth-placed Saints, Essendon and the Western Bulldogs, ahead of Friday night’s clash at Marvel Stadium.

A win over Ross Lyon’s hard-working Saints would give Brisbane some breathing space and help build momentum.

“We’re fourth on the ladder, they’re fifth on the ladder. There’s a fair bit to play for, so I expect it to be a tough, hard contest,” Fagan said.

“It’s (the ladder) not something that I put up but the players are obviously aware.

“I don’t really need to go on about that too much, they know what’s at stake. I’m sure St Kilda do as well.

“It’s what it gets to once you get past the halfway mark – it’s all about trying to get the best position on the ladder.”

The Saints are hard-running and disciplined defensively.

It means clever and fast ball use will be at a premium with skilful winger Hugh McCluggage, back at big man Darcy Fort’s expense, a welcome inclusion on his return from concussion.

After a win against Sydney, Fagan was confident his players could work their way past the dogged Saints.

“They’re always a tough side to play against and they don’t concede too many scores. 

“They get a lot of numbers back so the challenge is to try and move the ball well enough before they get back there. They’re a really honest team.”

The Lions have overcome tough defensive efforts or teams dropping numbers back in games against the Western Bulldogs and Essendon.

“The thing you do control to a fair degree is how quickly you move the ball and from different situations,” Fagan said.

“We’ve just got to take our opportunities when they arise to get the ball moving quickly.

“We’re a high-scoring team and we get a lot of inside-50s, so it’s not an area of concern for us.

“We’re always trying to fine tune it but hopefully we can play our best brand in that regard.”

The Saints are ‘managing’ veteran midfielder Seb Ross, listed as an emergency, with Ben Paton recalled.