Wary Brisbane coach Chris Fagan does not desire a Port Adelaide repeat so has drilled into his facet the hazard Fremantle poses on the Gabba.
The Dockers (2-4) surged to complete the 2022 common season in fifth, however have been disappointing throughout the primary six rounds of this yr.
The Lions have hit their straps with three-straight wins and have been formidable at dwelling underneath Fagan.
But losses to a fired-up Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs already this season are contemporary within the thoughts of the Lions coach.
“I’m really wary of them,” Fagan mentioned of the Dockers.
“We’ve played a few teams this year that have been under the blow torch.
“You’ve received to respect a workforce that gained a closing final yr and appears to be on the enhance.
“They beat us last year in Perth pretty comprehensively, especially around the ball.
“I’d think about that might be their theme a little bit bit at Fremantle his week, ‘we will get our season going, boys’.
“I’d be doing the same thing if I was in their shoes.”
Fagan additionally defended star man Lachie Neale, who copped criticism from former players-turned pundits Garry Lyon and Jordan Lewis for contributing to the hazard of a Callan Ward sort out by not making an attempt tougher to remain on his ft.
Ward copped a one-game ban when he flung a standing Neale to the bottom final weekend.
“I was disappointed to be honest that people would think Lachie would fake it to win a free kick,” Fagan mentioned.
“I don’t understand the people who say that.
“If you get concussion you may be out for every week, you may be out eternally.
“If you start to think players are going to fake it to get a free kick we’re going down the wrong path completely.
“I do not assume Ward’s sort out was venomous in any respect.
“It was just one of those weird situations that happen in the game.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
