The Brisbane Lions have been forced to take action after a so-called “fanclub” on social media started circulating fake stories about their players. Some of the made-up stories involved former captain Lachie Neale and false family news about current co-captain Harris Andrews.
Club Statement on Misinformation
“We just wanted to bring to your attention a number of fake/AI Facebook pages that are posted fake stories regarding our players,” the Lions said in a statement. “Please stay vigilant online to misinformation — some of these stories are regarding real news events and falsely involving our playing group, and also impacting the lives of the players families.
“This is harmful and is important to stay aware of what you read. If you’re unsure about something, always feel free to reach out to us for confirmation or information.”
Concerns Over Specific Facebook Page
The club said their concerns came from a Facebook page called Lions Fanclub. “Everything specifically from this page is fake/AI and dangerous misinformation,” the Lions said.
One fake story shamefully used missing five-year-old girl Sharon Granites as its hook, saying the suspect was apprehended and Neale had reached out to the family and “truly changed their lives”. Another story said that Neale had made a “bitter admission” and left fans “feeling abandoned”.
Another fake story suggested coach Chris Fagan had “removed a player from the Brisbane Lions’ roster” to prioritise the “student’s long-term future”.
The club urged fans to stay vigilant and verify any questionable content directly with the club.
