Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan is optimistic that a thorough and transparent review of their narrow defeat in last year’s grand final has prepared the team for a successful campaign in 2024.
Following their heartbreaking loss to Collingwood, Fagan and his coaching staff meticulously examined the match for insights, encouraging players to openly share any regrets before the offseason.
Focused on learning from their experiences and aiming for improvement, Fagan guided players through the game, prompting them to pinpoint areas for enhancement. Despite some players feeling exposed during this process, Fagan believes the lessons learned will benefit the team as they strive for victory this season.
“It was an excellent review. I particularly appreciated the players’ honesty, as the grand final ultimately hinged on crucial moments,” Fagan expressed on Tuesday.
“I had individual discussions with the players, asking them if there were any moments they wished they could revisit. I emphasized to them that there would be no consequences for being forthright, reminding them that they’re human and bound to make mistakes with regrets. It was crucial to address these issues before they went on break, preventing them from lingering for the next six months.”
“I was intrigued to see how honest they’d be, considering we (the coaches) had thoroughly reviewed the tape and were familiar with all the pivotal moments. However, they didn’t overlook a single one.
“Their candor was impressive, with some players needing to expose themselves quite vulnerably. Nonetheless, it was a valuable exercise. Eventually, I presented them with the footage of everything they had mentioned, and that concluded our discussion,” Fagan remarked.
Fagan mentioned that adjustments to their game style during the pre-season should bolster their effectiveness, especially considering their impressive record of winning 17 out of 23 home and away matches last year.
However, Fagan also believes that having 23 players who have experienced a grand final will enhance their performance if they reach that stage again.
“After the grand final,” Fagan stated on SEN Breakfast, “I told them, ‘Before today, we had three players who had experienced a grand final, but now we have 23, and each of you will benefit from that experience.'”
“We took full advantage of this in the days immediately following the grand final to reflect on the lessons learned and to store them away for future reference. Hopefully, we’ll have another opportunity to apply those lessons.”
Brisbane will kick off their 2024 campaign against Carlton in the Opening Round at the Gabba on Friday, March 8th.
