Fagan’s retort
UNAPOLOGETIC Lions coach Chris Fagan has shrugged off this week’s rebuke from Crows counterpart Don Pyke with the blunt observation that clubs coped better with potential player transfers when they were the chasers and not the victims.
He was referring to Adelaide’s double standards over Brisbane’s interest in Charlie Cameron and their own very public courtship of Carlton’s Bryce Gibbs last year.
Adelaide went hard after incontract Gibbs during last year’s trade period and Crows players have spoken openly about how much they’d like to see the South Australian return home.
Brisbane have also received encouragement from rivals who have been on the end of Crows poaching raids.
Fagan delivered the dig to Pyke and the Crows when asked how he felt footy han- dled potential movements.
“I think we handle it well when we are the chasers, we don’t handle it so well when we are the victims,’’ he said.
“But we choose to be the chasers often, all clubs do.’’
Brisbane are regular targets of interstate raids – just this year they had to endure months of speculation over the future of Josh Schache.
The Lions did not instigate the discussion on Mt Isa-born Cameron, but became interested when news broke he wanted to return to the Sunshine State to be closer to family.
The Lions see the fact they are being linked to interstate players as evidence the perception of their club from across the competition is changing.
Fagan has warned of a new era of aggressive recruiting that will take place over the next two years.
The Lions, looking to avoid the wooden spoon, travel to face Melbourne at the MCG tomorrow.