Brisbane coach Chris Fagan’s ongoing tinkering with a successful line-up is a well timed reminder to the Lions squad to keep away from complacency towards Fremantle on the Gabba on Saturday.
Despite his aspect chasing a fourth successive victory this weekend, Fagan has made a change to Brisbane’s backline, with the skilled Ryan Lester to make his first AFL look of the season on the expense of Irishman Darragh Joyce, who has been named among the many emergencies.
Lester’s choice is a reward for his good type in Brisbane’s VFL workforce.
Lions co-captain Lachie Neale mentioned it was additionally a warning to his gamers that being a part of a successful workforce didn’t assure them a spot the week after.
“The best teams still try to change their line-up,” Neale mentioned on Friday,
“We’re so early in the year. I can guarantee you our line-up in round 22 won’t be the same as this week; it’s always going to change a little bit.
“It shows that if you do stack up performances in the ‘twos’ that you can get an opportunity in the ‘ones’ as well.
“It probably puts us guys that are playing on edge a bit more – that you’ve got to perform, otherwise there are guys who are playing well who are going to take your spot.”
Neale was delighted for the favored Lester, a famend workforce man.
“He’s been leading the VFL side superbly for the first month and a bit, so it’s a just reward for ‘Froggy’,” he mentioned.
“I think he can play a really good role for us down back. They’ve got some pretty versatile forwards who play that medium size like Sam Sturt. … who he’ll be able to play on.
“He can win his own footy as well, and use it pretty well, so I’m happy for him.”
Former Docker Neale mentioned he hadn’t given his outdated membership a lot thought forward of Saturday’s conflict, however expects the Dockers to return out preventing after having misplaced 4 of their six matches this season.
“I haven’t really thought about the Dockers too much this week, which is nice … but they’re going to be coming out pretty fierce, I would have thought, (after) probably not playing the footy that they want to,” he mentioned.
“We know what their best is like. We’ve got to be able to match their intensity straight away.
“Last year (in Perth) they touched us up with contested ball and clearance, so they’ve certainly got the cattle to really perform in that area.”
Source: www.news.com.au
