Brisbane’s Struggles and the Need for Change
Brisbane has started the year in a sluggish manner, and their recent loss to Fremantle by 25 points has seen the Lions drop to ninth on the ladder. This performance has sparked discussions about what needs to change for the team to regain its form.
A Call for Bold Decisions
On the Six Points AFL podcast, Mark Stevens shared his thoughts on the situation, suggesting that Chris Fagan might need to make some tough decisions at the selection table. Stevens highlighted that Fagan has never dropped a player, which he described as “warm, cuddly grandpa Fagan.” While this approach has worked in the past, Stevens feels it may not be sufficient now.
“I’m a bit flat because I picked the Lions; I expected a bounce,” Stevens said. “But does Fagan pull the trigger on somebody? Well, I’m looking at Cam Rayner, I just think as a number one pick overall, an extremely disappointing player. He’s had some huge moments, but if you look at the numbers, he’s been flopping.”
Rayner, who was selected as the top pick, hasn’t met expectations. Despite being involved in premierships and showing strength in big moments, Stevens believes he’s not the generational player the team needs. He also pointed out that Rayner has faced fines for staging and is currently underperforming.
“Fletcher’s the other one, who looks out of sorts in his role,” Stevens added. “I’m going to pull the trigger on Rayner. I don’t think Fagan will do it; it’s just not his style, but he must be close to losing patience.”
Other players like McCluggage and Dunkley are also under scrutiny. While Dunkley is a great leader and has had good media exposure, his statistics this season have not been impressive. Stevens believes the team is starting to unravel and that Fagan might need to take action soon.
Focus on the Middle of the Ground
Daniel Harford, another voice in the discussion, believes the Lions’ biggest issue lies in the middle of the ground. He pointed out the lack of pressure between the arcs and the intensity in that area.
“Their big problem is between the arcs at the moment, pressure between the arcs, intensity between the arcs,” Harford said. “They’ll get some moments forward of the footy, they got some brilliant players forward of the footy, individual excellence behind the ball, sometimes saves them as well, it’s not necessarily a system that saves them at the moment.”
Harford emphasized that the team is struggling defensively in transition and that there’s a lack of fire in the Brisbane Lions. He noted that teams willing to work both ways in the middle of the ground are taking advantage of this weakness.
Key Players Under Scrutiny
- Cam Rayner: As the number one pick, Rayner has not met expectations. His performance has been inconsistent, and he’s faced fines for staging.
- Fletcher: Appears out of place in his role, raising questions about his suitability for the team.
- McCluggage: Doesn’t seem to be performing at his best, contributing to the team’s struggles.
- Dunkley: A strong leader with good media presence, but his stats this season have been disappointing.
Looking Ahead
The Brisbane Lions need to address these issues quickly if they want to improve their standing. With the right changes, the team could regain its momentum and start climbing the ladder again. The focus on the middle of the ground and the need for bold decisions are crucial steps in this process.
