Lions coach Chris Fagan says his club may look to leave Queensland sooner than planned amid the “eerie” scenes as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches.
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Plus Freo’s Andrew Brayshaw opens up on why he opted to put pen to paper on a long-term deal that’s likely to see him a Docker for life.
Recap the biggest talking points from Thursday’s edition of Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
LIONS TO EXPLORE ALL OPTIONS IN CYCLONE AFTERMATH
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan says he’s told his players to embrace the “unknown” as the Lions wait out the rapidly approaching Tropical Cyclone Alfred that’s due to hit Queensland.
While the reigning premier’s Opening Round clash with Geelong has been postponed, attention has turned to their Round 1 clash with Sydney – with options on the table for the Lions.
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Fagan says the club is prepared to ask the AFL for permission to head to Sydney as early as Tuesday in a bid to best prepare their premiership defence.
But much of that depends on the outcome of TC Alfred.
“We don’t know what sort of effect it’s going to have on Brisbane and Queensland in general, whether there’ll be grounds available when the cyclone passes or not … Maybe we might need to talk to the AFL about the idea of coming down to Sydney, say on Tuesday so we can do our training down there and be ready for the game – that will be provided of course all our families are safe up here,” he told Fox Footy.
“There’s a few things up in the air at the moment.
“I feels like we’re back in COVID – not knowing what’s going to happen from one day to the next.
“All we can do is make sure we are safe. Make that our priority at the moment.”
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Fagan described it as “unideal preparation” for their first match of 2025, given he is not sure when the players will regroup – or if they’ll even be in contact should telecommunications fail in the stormy conditions.
“We’re not sure really if we’d be able to meet again Sunday or Monday,” he said.
“There are some things we can’t control so we just have to roll with the punches a bit.”
Described by AFL 360 co-host Garry Lyon as “extraordinary and unprecedented”, Fagan revealed the one positive that’s come from the change in preparation – Charlie Cameron’s nine-goal effort in an intraclub scratch match.
“We decided very quickly to play a full on practice game (on Wednesday),” Fagan said.
“It was extraordinary. I hope he hasn’t wasted all that good form on an intraclub practice game!” he added of the 32 disposals Cameron racked up playing forward pocket.
STAR REVEALS: ‘WHY I COMMITTED TO FREO’
Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw says he never really considered leaving the club, as being part of the Dockers’ first premiership was a major factor in his decision to commit for a further six years.
Describing it as “one of the most important decisions” of his life, Brayshaw said his “main goal” to win a flag with Fremantle kept him at the club, turning his back on a potential return home to Victoria.
“Once we sort of got that clear, everything else didn’t really matter,” he told AFL 360.
“(He and fiance Lizzie) We are both super happy to be over here. We definitely call Perth home.
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“I feel that the first seven years I’ve been at the club, there’s been some hard times … It didn’t really feel right to have gone through all that hard stuff and all those hard times developing and trying to build our game – it wouldn’t have felt right not to be part of the next seven years, and hopefully a really successful seven years.”
Brayshaw said while rival clubs did reach out to his manager, talks “never really” progressed from there before he put pen to paper on his new Dockers’ deal.
“When I think of some of my teammates who have signed long-term deals over the last couple of years, it really gave me a lift,” he revealed.
“When I saw Hayden Young re-sign, Josh Treacy re-sign for really long-term deals I thought, well these are some senior players that are really respected in our club and they’re showing faith in the footy club. I really wanted to get this deal done before Round 1 to try and give some of my teammates a bit of a lift and show them that I have absolute faith in the club.”
Describing it as a “weight off my shoulders”, Brayshaw believes Fremantle’s time is now.
“We probably played finals before everyone expected us to … now I think we’re physically ready, mentally prepared to be right at the top of that ladder,” he said.
“Everyone at the footy club wants to be back there (in finals). I think we’re ready for the pressure that comes with that.”
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