Numbers game that Fagan kept a secret
IT’S something he didn’t tell the players but, after Brisbane’s demolition of the Gold Coast Suns at the Gabba on Saturday, Lions coach Chris Fagan said the win was all about percentage.
While top spot looks likely to go to Geelong, the Lions are battling with the West Coast Eagles for the right to host the other home final.
The Suns’ percentage boost kept Brisbane a few per cent ahead of the reigning premier with two more games to play.
The percentage issue was something “Fages” — a frontrunner for 2019 AFL Coach of the Year — did not share with the players.
“I was thinking about percentage all week in terms of the ladder,” Fagan said.
“It’s going to come down to that sort of thing.
“We never talked about it once with the playing group.
“It’s all about the process for us and that was the pleasing part. We got the process right and fortunately got a reward from a percentage perspective.
“But it was never a discussion — I think when you talk to players about things like that you’re talking about the wrong thing, even though it’s important.
“But we were careful not to get caught up in that.”
Brisbane’s Tasmanian Lion Mitch Robinson continues to thrive under Fagan. He put in a near bestafield performance against Gold Coast, reaping 28 possessions, 12 contested, five marks, eight clearances, six inside 50s and a goal.
Brody Mihocek had a super day for Collingwood, kicking 4.1 in the Pies’ 27-point win over Melbourne, and ruckman Toby Nankervis made a solid return for Richmond. IT was a tough day at the office for Sun Lachie Weller against the rampaging Lions. The Suns gun had the ball 15 times — to his credit about half of them were contested.
Port Adelaide ensured Tassie defender Robbie Fox (10 possessions, 10 marks, three tackles) saw the ball plenty of times in Sydney’s 47-point defeat by Port.
It was also a day to forget for Ben Brown as North Melbourne crashed at the Cattery thanks to Geelong baring its premiership claws.
Mark Blicavs and Harry Taylor combined against Big Ben to keep him goalless, along with 20 teammates.
Cats defender Jake Kolodjashnij barely got out of second gear in his game, which was worth 11 touches and one mark. in a few areas and we need to try and score as best we can.”
Rather than lay the blame on his misfiring attack, Shaw said the root of the problem was the way ladder leader Geelong dominated contested ball.
“We got beaten pretty convincingly in there,” he said.
“Geelong gave us a real lesson inside. It’s as simple as that. We were disappointed in our output tonight.
“We felt in the first quarter we were in there with a sniff. We played some pretty good footy, we had 15 inside-50s, but we just couldn’t score.
“That was something we needed to change and it just didn’t quite work for us after that. We kept changing things but we were chasing our tail a little bit.”
North Melbourne’s only goal came when ruckman Todd Goldstein converted after winning a free kick early in the second quarter.