Fagan’s indefinite leave not getting in way of recruitment: Lions
BRISBANE is open to a trade for Jack Gunston to preserve its free agency compensation for Dan McStay as the club said that Chris Fagan’s indefinite leave had not impacted players wanting to arrive at the club.
The Lions will lose Tom Berry to Gold Coast in coming days but have had a sensational lead up to the trade period with Bulldog Josh Dunkley nominating the club.
Fagan is on a leave of absence but the club is still checking in with him and he can have some influence in guiding the direction of the week, with the AFL not mandating that he have no contact with the club.
Football boss Danny Daly said the club was on track and would have to make some decisions in the next six weeks about the training program if it became apparent the investigation would drag on into December.
But he said both Dunkley and Gunston were very keen to follow through on their requests.
“Fages is a major part of our footy club and the culture he had built but one thing about our football club is we pride ourselves on the people we have and the culture,” Daly said.
“With Jack Gunston and Dunkley, there is no dramas with them about still wanting to come so it’s all good from our end and their end.
“It’s only early doors but as a footy club we have spoken about a few what ifs but once we know where the investigation lands and how long it might take we work through what we need to do.
“Everyone has gone on holidays in terms of our players and staff for six weeks so we have a little bit of time to work through what we need to do if Fages isn’t back so that will be a decision made by the board and we will see where it all lands.”
If the Lions could secure a trade with a later pick for Gunston it would allow them to retain their free agency compensation for McStay, who will find his way to the Pies.