Fremantle Coach Warns Against Underestimating the Wounded Lions
Brisbane’s recent dip in form is not the only reason why Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is cautious ahead of their match against the Lions at the Gabba on Saturday. The top-of-the-table Dockers are entering the game with a strong sense of confidence, having secured 10 consecutive victories. This momentum has placed them in a dominant position in the league standings.
On the other hand, the Lions have faced a challenging period, suffering back-to-back defeats. Their most recent loss came against the GWS Giants, where they were defeated by a staggering 78 points. Despite this setback, Longmuir remains wary of the reigning premiers, who have managed to win six of their 11 matches this season.
“I don’t know if the weekend makes me any more wary – I’m wary of them anytime,” Longmuir said. “They beat us last year here (in Perth), they’ve shown this year already why they’re the reigning premiers, they’ve played some really good footy across the course of the year and I expect them to be at their best.”
Longmuir also acknowledged that the Lions’ performance in their recent game against the Giants was an “anomaly.” He emphasized that his focus is on identifying trends rather than isolated incidents.
“There are some trends there that we see as real threats, and we see some opportunities. It’s a great challenge for us,” he added.
The Lions are set to gain a boost with the return of key players Jarrod Berry and Noah Answerth, who have recovered from calf and concussion injuries respectively. Their presence is expected to strengthen the team’s overall performance.
Conor McKenna, a utility player for Brisbane, highlighted the importance of Berry and Answerth’s team-first mentality. He believes their commitment to the team’s goals will be crucial in the upcoming match.
“They’ll bring probably exactly what we need to the team this weekend – put their roles ahead of their personal quests,” McKenna said. “We’ve had a disappointing few weeks, so we’re just trying to get back on track, play the game we know we can play, get a result and just perform for four quarters.”
Despite these positive developments, the Lions are still without their key player Dayne Zorko, who is sidelined due to a quad injury. Zorko is expected to miss up to six more weeks, which poses a significant challenge for the team.
“It’s a concern, but he is 37 years of age, so maybe that’s got something to do with it,” said Brisbane coach Chris Fagan. The absence of Zorko highlights the need for the Lions to adapt and find alternative strategies to maintain their competitive edge.
