By Murray Wenzel
Wary Brisbane coach Chris Fagan doesn’t want a Port Adelaide repeat so has drilled into his side the danger Fremantle poses at the Gabba.
The Dockers (2-4) surged to finish the 2022 regular season in fifth, but have been disappointing across the first six rounds of this year.
Former Demon Luke Jackson enjoys a moment for the Dockers.Credit: AFL Photos
The Lions have hit their straps with three-straight wins and have been formidable at home under Fagan.
But losses to a fired-up Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs already this season are fresh in the mind of the Lions coach.
“I’m really wary of them,” Fagan said of the Dockers.
“We’ve played a few teams this year that have been under the blow torch.
“You’ve got to respect a team that won a final last year and seems to be on the improve.
“They beat us last year in Perth pretty comprehensively, especially around the ball.
“I’d imagine that would be their theme a little bit at Fremantle his week, ‘we can get our season going, boys’.
“I’d be doing the same thing if I was in their shoes.”
Fagan also defended star man Lachie Neale, who copped criticism from former players-turned pundits Garry Lyon and Jordan Lewis for contributing to the danger of a Callan Ward tackle by not trying harder to stay on his feet.
Ward copped a one-game ban when he flung a standing Neale to the ground last weekend.
Lachie Neale gets a kick away.Credit: Getty Images
“I was disappointed to be honest that people would think Lachie would fake it to win a free kick,” Fagan said.
“I don’t understand the people who say that.
“If you get concussion you can be out for a week, you can be out forever.
“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 don’t think Ward’s tackle was venomous at all.
“It was just one of those weird situations that happen in the game.”
AAP
