Brisbane ruckman Oscar McInerney has come under criticism for his “ruck and thump” tactics, with fears it could cost the Lions come finals.
Speaking on First Crack, Fox Footy’s David King urged the Lions’ big man to stamp the action of his game now.
“Oscar has to get this out of his game,” King said.
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“The smash and grab where he grabs the ball out of the ruck and just thumps it – you’ve got the best ball users riding shotgun.”
King showed replays of the action against Fremantle – including one he coughed up inside defensive 50.
“He gave it straight back to the Fremantle forwards,” King lamented.
“Big O! What are you doing there? What is that?
“It looks ridiculous because it is ridiculous.”
King said he couldn’t understand why McInerney would want to just handball long in hope when he had a midfield with the likes of Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale in it.
“You’ve got Lachie Neale right there, Daniel Rich right there, Dayne Zorko right there. My boy Will (Ashcroft) – just pop it to Will and get out of the way big man!” he said.
“The one down back has got to go because it will cost you a big game.
“I don’t want Oscar to be the reason they fall out of a finals series.”
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan admitted players tried to be “too flashy” at times against the Dockers.
“I was a little disappointed in the third quarter – I thought we tried to be too flashy at times and paid a price for that,” he said.
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“I asked the players at three quarter time, what do you reckon I should say (about the flashy style)? And they told me. They knew.
“They coached that out of themselves.
“The last quarter I thought we played with more control and kept it basic.
“That’s all we need to do. And if we do that, we’re hard to beat.”
