Brisbane Lions Coach Demands Fairer AFL Gather Round Scheduling
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has publicly urged the AFL to address fixture imbalances in the Gather Round, following his team's continued exclusion from playing at Adelaide Oval. The Lions secured a 26-point victory over North Melbourne at Barossa Park Oval on Saturday, marking the fourth consecutive year both clubs have been sidelined from the premier venue during the feature round.
Persistent Fixture Trends Spark Concern
This matchup not only represented the third time Brisbane and North Melbourne have faced each other in the four editions of Gather Round but also underscored a recurring pattern where both teams are consistently fixtured away from Adelaide Oval. Brisbane's history in the round includes previous clashes at Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills and suburban Norwood, while North Melbourne has now played at the Barossa for two consecutive years.
Despite the Lions' impressive record of making the past three grand finals and winning two of them, they have yet to be scheduled at Adelaide Oval for Gather Round. Fagan emphasized that his call for change is not a complaint but a push for equity across the league.
Fagan Advocates for Shared Experiences
"We're not a club that complains ... our record at Gather Round is 4-0 so we can't complain," Fagan stated. "I think North are in the same boat as us, we've never played a game at Adelaide Oval. We've actually played each other three times as well."
He argued that the fairest approach would be to rotate teams through Adelaide Oval to ensure all clubs and their fans can enjoy the iconic venue. "Everyone should have that experience of playing Gather Round at Adelaide Oval," Fagan added, expressing confidence that crowds would remain strong regardless of fixture changes.
Match Conditions and Player Performances
The game itself was played in challenging windy and wet conditions, leading to a scrappy contest that attracted a healthy crowd braving the elements. North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson noted the weather made it difficult to assess his team's performance against the Lions.
On the field, Brisbane's Will Ashcroft faced a tight tag from Jy Simpkin, who restricted the young star to fewer than 20 possessions for the first time since last season. Fagan viewed this as a valuable learning opportunity for Ashcroft, who typically sees teammates Lachie Neale or Hugh McLuggage targeted.
"He deserves a tag, but what will happen is he will get a lot of learnings out of that," Fagan remarked. "It was something that, in a way, needed to happen to him. We'll go to work during the week on ways we can help him deal with that in a more positive way."
Despite the attention on Ashcroft, Neale capitalized on the opportunity, amassing 30 possessions and a game-high 10 clearances, showcasing Brisbane's depth and adaptability.
