Jack Gunston and Daniel Rich have been dropped from the Brisbane Lions’ facet to face Sydney, with coach Chris Fagan saying the veteran pair advised him they did not need to be chosen.
Recruit Gunston and defender Rich will not face the Swans on the Gabba on Friday or play within the Lions’ VFL group, Fagan revealed on Thursday.
Instead they are going to be positioned in a coaching block indefinitely after the coach stated the pair approached him on Monday.
“Both those guys aren’t going to play this week and they’re not going to play for a little while,” Fagan stated.
“They’re not happy with the way they’re playing at the moment; they believe their form doesn’t warrant selection.
“Goes to indicate you what good and trustworthy males they’re.”
Gunston, 31, has averaged a goal per game in 11 outings since arriving from Hawthorn, but has gone goalless and tallied just 11 disposals across his past two starts.
Defender Rich, 33, has battled niggles and was subbed off during last week’s loss to Hawthorn.
“There’s clearly the choice to return to the reserves, however at their age one of the best factor we are able to do for them to get again to taking part in their greatest footy is to present them a coaching block,” Fagan stated.
“For the subsequent few weeks, that is what they’re going to be doing, constructing their our bodies up, constructing their health up, and hopefully in a number of weeks’ time they’re feeling actually good.
“What happens is they end up not training and it doesn’t help them.
“So we wish to do a circuit-breaker with them … I’m unsure how lengthy they’re going to be out for or once they’ll be prepared to return again.
“So when you see the team tonight they’ll be out ‘managed’, which is one of the great words that’s just appeared in recent times.”
Jaspa Fletcher, the son of former Lion Adrian Fletcher, will make his debut for Brisbane, and Kai Lohmann will play his first recreation of the season. Darcy Fort and Ryan Lester may even return.
Keidean Coleman is again within the beginning 22 after performing because the substitute final week, however there isn’t any room for Dayne Zorko after the veteran served his one-match suspension.
Sydney have misplaced necessary pair Lance Franklin and Isaac Heeney to accidents, with gun midfielder Luke Parker again after his suspension, and mid-season recruit Jack Buller to debut.
Brisbane are 8-4 and clinging to fourth on share after consecutive losses. All 4 of their defeats have come on the highway.
Booming left-footer Rich was a 2021 All-Australian and has been a Lions fixture since 2009.
Triple-premiership Hawks ahead Gunston was recruited as a alternative for Daniel McStay, however has kicked 11.9 this season and managed only one objective in his previous 4 video games.
“He’s disappointed in himself; he’s a very honest person and a proud man,” Fagan stated of Gunston.
“For him to come in and have a chat about it is outstanding.
“Both of us are optimistic that he can get again to his greatest kind.
“He just needs to be moving a little better than he is at the moment.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
