Brisbane Lions fans rip coach after shock move from veterans
After veterans Daniel Rich and Jack Gunston asked to be dropped, fans have asked a major question of coach Chris Fagan.
Brisbane Lions veterans Daniel Rich and Jack Gunston have asked head coach Chris Fagan to drop them for the round 14 clash against Sydney at the Gabba in the wake of their shock loss to Hawthorn a week prior. The Lions are locked in a tight battle for an AFL top four spot alongside Melbourne, St Kilda and Essendon, with the upset at the hands of the Hawks seemingly prompting major changes for the club.
Both players approached Fagan prior to selections for this weekend's match, telling the coach their form 'doesn't warrant selection', with the pair expected to be out of the side indefinitely. Rich and Gunston will now enter a 'training block' for an undetermined period of time.
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"They're not happy with the way that they're playing at the moment, they believe their form doesn't warrant selection," Fagan said. "There's obviously the option to go back and play in the reserves, but at their age, I think the best thing we can do for them, to give them the best chance to get back to playing their best, is to give them a training block.
"For the next weeks that's what they'll be doing, building their bodies up, building their fitness up. I'm not sure how long they'll be out for and when they'll be ready to come back, but that's the decision we've made."
The move prompted an interesting reaction from footy fans on social media. There was a mixture of some fans commending Rich and Gunston for their honesty and self-awareness, praising them for putting the team ahead of their own ambitions.
On the other hand, some why the Lions hadn't made the call themselves, given the players had admitted their form wasn't up to scratch. Brisbane will enter Saturday night's match as favourites against last year's grand finalists, but it looms as a crucial test of their top four credibility.
Rich has battled injuries so far this season, playing just seven games, while off-season recruit Gunston has kicked 11 goals in 10 games. In the past two games against Adelaide and Hawthorn, Gunston has totalled just 11 disposals.
Why haven’t Gunston and Rich just been dropped? 😂
Shouldn’t need to go and tell the coach they aren’t playing well enough…
That’s hilarious to me (the most dropped player in West Coast history) https://t.co/chnBhPUnmY— Will Schofield (@WillSchofield) June 15, 2023
Can’t say I’m surprised it was left up to Gunston & Rich to withdraw themselves from the senior side. Fagan has had an inability to make the tough calls at selection for a long time
— Michael Gleeson (@magleeson) June 15, 2023
Can someone from the @brisbanelions explain why Rich and Gunston had to drop themselves?
Why can’t Fagan lead this club and make tough decisions? It’s utterly bizarre. Other clubs will take this as a major vulnerability. Good work 👏🏼— COOPS 😎 (@sportandracing) June 15, 2023
Good leadership this but feel that decision should’ve been made by the coach prior to players doing it themselves. I’ve disagreed with a few selection decisions from Ken Hinkley this year but he has added a “ruthless edge” which is hard to disagree with! Makes teams great https://t.co/s4fe24xVYf
— Nick Turner (@nickturner_11) June 14, 2023
.@McJoshmclean has told us that Daniel Rich and Jack Gunston walked into Chris Fagan’s office on the same day and asked the club to stand them down because they feel their bodies aren’t up to AFL football and that they are letting their teammates down.
— SEN WA Breakfast (@SENWABreakfast) June 14, 2023
Brisbane Lions hoping to build towards Rich, Gunston returns
"There's obviously the option to go back to the reserves, but at their age the best thing we can do for them to get back to playing their best footy is to give them a training block," Fagan said. "For the next few weeks, that's what they'll be doing.
"Building their bodies up, building their fitness up, and hopefully in a few weeks' time they're feeling really good. What happens is they end up not training and it doesn't help them.
"So we want to do a circuit breaker with them … I'm not sure how long they'll be out for or when they'll be ready to come back. 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."
Brisbane are 8-4 and clinging to fourth on percentage after consecutive losses. All four of their defeats have come on the road.
With AAP
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