Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has become accustomed to the weird and wonderful developments of the 2024 AFL season and is refusing to get complacent ahead of September, where his Lions should feature prominently.
This weekend presents the chance for Brisbane to reverse the fortunes of their last MCG meeting with Collingwood, which ended the season in premiership glory for the Magpies. This time around, the Magpies' season hangs by a thread while Brisbane fights for a top-four spot.
But Fagan won't build up the contest anymore than two sides needing a home & away win, with some added pressure to perform well in a rare outing at the Grand Final venue.
"It feels nice winning every week. You can build it up if you want, but for us, it's just another team we have to play against," the Brisbane coach declared ahead of the meeting.
"If that means that it finishes their finals opportunity then that's okay too.
"We don't get too many chances to play at the MCG, we've only had the one go there this year. That was against Melbourne and we had a good result then."
Key position player Eric Hipwood could be in the frame to return to the side from his groin concern, the Lions' coach has yet to disclose his availability or potential position on the ground, given his recent stints down back.
"He's made progress. We'll see how he goes today, I'm still not 100% certain that he'll play but he's certainly a lot better than he was this time last week."
The defensive stocks at Brisbane have taken hits all season long, starting with the season-ending injuries to recruit Tom Doedee and star rebounder Keidean Coleman.
Former Bomber Connor McKenna is another recently sidelined rebounder who Fagan expects to fight his way back into senior contention ahead of September.
The Lions' coach says McKenna just needs to "get some good form back in the twos."
"He's had a few injury problems during the year, he had a bit of an interrupted preseason which hasn't helped him, but he's still well & truly in calculations for our team in the weeks ahead."
Brisbane will be without a key defensive pillar for the rest of the home and away season.https://t.co/iOZxJZvxpY
— AFL (@AFL) August 15, 2024
Fellow defenders Jack Payne and Bruce Reville have also spent time on the sidelines in recent weeks but could be welcomed back for a run in September.
"It'll be good to get them back before finals, I don't think Jack will play before finals, I think he'll come right just on the eve of finals and hopefully he can play in a reserves game in the bye leading into the first week," Fagan shared.
"Injuries and part in parcel of it, we've had our fair share this year, we've had a lot of guys that have gone for the season, so we'd like to get a few of our backline stocks back together so that we can put out our strongest lineup come finals time.
"But, you know what? We haven't made finals yet, still mathematically possible that we can miss out. So we've just got to focus on this weekend."
In a season like no other, these comments from Fagan are within reason. Despite sitting two premiership points out of second, the Lions could stunningly be two losses away from missing the eight, needing one more win to secure their spot definitively.
The reality leaves Fagan caught between building up his side's premiership aspirations or sharing his own uncertainty about the 2024 competition, which is shaping for a finish like we've never seen before.
"It feels like it's a year that you could win it from anywhere but there's no doubt that finishing top four is an advantage."
"It is a year where you look at every team and go 'they're a chance'."
"The main thing... particularly since we were two wins and five losses, was just to try and make finals. So that's still our aim."
