Roaring Lions a work in progress
BRISBANE own the secondbest active winning streak in the AFL after the 24-point disposal of Fremantle at the Gabba on Sunday night.
But Lions senior coach Chris Fagan insists his side is a long way from perfect.
Brisbane claimed its fourthstraight victory and fifth win from its past six starts with the “workmanlike” result against the Dockers when the Lions got out to a 47-point lead before taking the foot off the pedal.
After a 1-3 start to their 2021 campaign, the Lions have moved to fifth on the ladder with the depleted Suns waiting for them in Saturday’s QClash.
“I never feel like we are humming along,” Fagan said.
“I always feel like every game is incredibly hard to win every week. I always coach better when I think like that and I think our players play better when they think like that too.
“It’s been a good recovery from one win and three losses, I guess. It’s a little bit different to what we’ve done the past couple of years when we started well and kept going. Psychologically it’s tough when you are 1-3 and people are sort of predicting doom and gloom for your season.
“The fact we’ve been able to gather ourselves and win our last four is a credit to the group and their professionalism.”
Brisbane led by 21 points at quarter-time, 34 points at the main break and 32 at the last change, with vastly superior efficiency going forward and defensive pressure also a notch or two above Freo’s.
The Lions had valuable contributors all over the ground, with the likes of Jarryd Lyons, Daniel Rich, Charlie Cameron, Hugh McCluggage, Dayne Zorko, Harris Andrews and Mitch Robinson leading the charge.
“Both teams were 4-3 coming into this game, so it was an important game for both sides and they turned up to play and I thought we were able to control the game from the start,’’ Fagan said.
“But we probably leave a tad disappointed that when you get seven goals up early in the last quarter, we couldn’t actually finish it off but credit to them too because they kept trying. (The) performance by no means was perfect but it was workmanlike, and we got there.’’
Cameron kicked three goals and five behinds from 11 marks and 14 disposals as he continued his return to form.
“It’s good for him he’s been able to hit the scoreboard the past few weeks but it’s not the only part of his game we judge him on,’’ Fagan said. “He’s a mozzie type of guy, he buzzes around. He attracts people to the football. The main thing is it doesn’t become about Charlie … he plays his role very well and generates excitement.”