Coach Lions - Has the Fagan era already peaked?

[H00t]

As others have said it’s the midfield and lions players pretty poor defensive running.

Finals are a different beast where contested ball and pressure are at a premium. Where other teams can lift in these areas lions really falter.

Saying that there does seem to be a mental block because they’ve had a number of games where they should have won (dogs and gws). Or put themselves in a position where they should have been well in front but kicked horribly for goal. (Tigers 2019)

Fix the midfield and I reckon they’ll be able to get over the mental block.

 

[Proper Gander]

Yeah true it’s not just because they played Melbourne but it also shows how silly people were getting carried away over their losses. Melbourne know how to pace themselves and will bring their best in September, and I don’t see anyone getting near them.

Oh we can undoubtedly **** it up big time.

Don’t lose hope now - the teams that pull it together in finals won’t necessarily be the ones that look in form right now

 

[brutus76]

he's taken them from 3 wins in 2016 to a regular finals team

This year they haven't improved and now injuries and COVID look like interrupting their season

I think they need a new approach with the midfield and Cameron Bruce

Cameron Bruce

Age

45

Ht

190cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.0

5star

K

9.9

4star

HB

9.1

5star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.7

4star

CL

1.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.8

4star

K

8.4

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

0.8

3star

and maybe some other assistants need replacing

Zorko, Robbo and Rich are close to the end so a early-mid 20s ready made mid would be ideal eg. Brandon Parfitt wouldn't cost the earth in a trade

Ashcroft if he nominates clearly makes the best 22

They still have a couple of years but the game plan needs tweaking (more defense)

 

[Johnny Bananas]

All the on-field problems with the Lions are not that big, I reckon they can be fixed in one offseason if the right moves are made. The question is, is Fages is the right person to make thise decisions? I suspect he isn't, since he clearly has his way of doing things, which hasn't worked out so far. The timing with Clarkson returning is a bit unfortunate since I doubt we'd sack Fages early and I doubt Clarkson would come to us if we did, but there are some good younger coaches out there like Yze and Kingsley who might be ready to make the step up for 2024.

 

[Bjchan13]

Points against is the Lions main problem. Anything can happen in finals but they dont have a good record and not sure they'll be able to just flick a switch and make themselves hard to score against.

 

[brmi]

Pressure starting to get the better of old man Fages.

Reportedly had a physical confrontation with journo after the loss against the bottom 4 Bombers over the weekend.

 

[My Tilly]

Pressure starting to get the better of old man Fages.

Reportedly had a physical confrontation with journo after the loss against the bottom 4 Bombers over the weekend.

Would have been some fight that one

 

[Inspecta Gadget]

2020 was their year. Had the added benefit of playing every game in QLD

 

[Toffee Lion]

If Will Ashcroft nominates us and we continue to be seen as a destination re: trading & free agency, I think we'll be around for a while longer than people expect.

Zorko & Rich the only two old enough that won't be around for much longer and both coverable. Zorko already has been tossed around to the back and forward line, there isn't much room for him anymore and Rich's replacement in Kiddy Coleman is a jet.

I can see a world where the list gets shuffled around going into 2024 with a new coach at the helm but I don't see a full drop off to bottom 4 for a long while to come.

 

[Happy_Neale]

We ain’t winning it this year but the list is relatively young, so I think the best is still to come. Hopefully anyway.

 

[RonnieRaven]

Like port they’ve had a great run with injuries and venues the last couple years their best is still good enough.
Because their lack of injuries prior to this year they lack exposed depth, their form at the g is also a worry and to win a flag your game needs to work at the g.
I’m definetly not riding them off but with new teams rising I feel they’ve only got until the end of 23 to get it done.

 

[La Dispute]

Reckon Fages punching on with a journo was like:

Or more like

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Pressure starting to get the better of old man Fages.

Reportedly had a physical confrontation with journo after the loss against the bottom 4 Bombers over the weekend.

Michael Whiting too who actually used to train and run with the Lions in preseason

 

[3KZ is Football]

Report: “Tense moment” between Lions coach and journalist in heated exchange

This sort of stuff is amateur hour from Fagan. If he doesn’t like it he can re-write the narrative by winning some finals. He has to own his coaching record.

 

[Pusswah]

Pretty obviously that bullying type stuff where you're trying to make someone else uncomfortable.

Unacceptable and he has form.
But when you're winning, you get away with a lot.

 

[Giant Pete]

They’ve had the best run with injuries in the comp over the last 4 years. They had a season of just home games (pretty much).
If they couldn’t win it then I don’t like their chances now.

 

[Daniel_Rich]

Gotta love fans from Vic sides who say 2020 was our chance to win it because the finals were in Queensland, but no, playing the Grand Final at the MCG every year isn't a massive leg up for them - how dare you!

We were way too young and inexperienced in 2020 to win it. IMO, last year was the first year that our window was wide open. Unfortunately, it looks like the end is coming quickly for Zorko (and to a lesser extent Rich) so we might not have too long to strike while he's around...of course, we could still win it this year, but on current form you wouldn't back us.

I'm hopeful that Berry and Rayner are better for the run this year coming off injuries and can step up alongside McCluggage and Bailey to take over in the middle. Hopefully Ashcroft can make a big impact as well, if he decides to join us. A rejuvenated midfield would allow us to have Zorko spending more time up forward and possibly even being rested throughout the season.

If we can't get it done this year, or more realistically, in 2023, then perhaps we'll be looking at a missed window. Not yet though, not by a long shot.

 

[scoman]

Pretty obviously that bullying type stuff where you're trying to make someone else uncomfortable.

Unacceptable and he has form.
But when you're winning, you get away with a lot.

Can you elaborate on the 'has form' comment. Have there been other incidents where Fagan has confronted journo's?

 

[iBeng]

Wheels off, to Tasmania we go!

 

[FFB1]

Until we fix the issue of our mids letting the opposition waltz out of the middle, putting ridiculous pressure on our defence; a number of players actually turning up when we play away from the GABBA, and our coach having more than one game plan and willing to drop under performers, we are no chance of winning a flag.

 

[p4p1]

I think Fagan might be on his last legs tbh. There seems to be one game plan with no backup plan. Chooses his favourites every week despite form in both the seniors and the reserves.
We are clearly one good 2-way running mid short. We are trying to use Mccluggage as that guy but I don’t think he is quick enough and he is better on the wings for us. If we had a good defensive mid we could have Berry and Clug on a wing each with Bailey and Rayner to rotate through forward and mid. I think starc could be that guy but he is so good in our defence we couldn’t replace him. We don’t have enough mongrel either and it shows when we face top sides and/or in finals.

 

[Milanista28]

Lucky they won't need to play the Dons and big two meter in this year's final series.

 

[WillHayward]

I think is list is talented enough but Fages might be cooked.

 

[WillHayward]

the Melbourne coach cheated on he’s wife after 15 years of marriage shouldn’t throw stones in Glasshouses as they say

I thought it was "don't glass people in brick shithouses"

 

[WillHayward]

Oh we can undoubtedly * it up big time.

Don’t lose hope now - the teams that pull it together in finals won’t necessarily be the ones that look in form right now

True.

Geelong seem to win the August flag every season.