“The most unimpressive post-match media conference I’ve heard”: Fagan under fire for Giant failure
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has come under fire for an uninspiring press conference in the aftermath of his side’s loss to GWS on Anzac Day, with his conduct labelled the Lions’ “biggest concern”.
Fagan’s men were humiliated after half-time as the Giants waltzed to a 54-point win that featured a nine-goal to two second half.
Brisbane’s top four chances are quickly slipping away, as are their premiership hopes and the 8th-year coach could offer little following the contest.
“No (the effort wasn’t where it needed to be in the second half),” the Lions mentor said.
“The first half I thought was fine, the second half, that’s well below par.”
When asked why that was the case, Fagan was stumped.
“It’s a good question. I don’t really know the answer at this point in time. I have no excuses. We just didn’t work as hard as they did,” a distraught Fagan said with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“We’ll have a talk about it, definitely, I’ll look at the vision of it on Monday.
They were comments that drew the ire of Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes.
“To hear Chris Fagan, he had no idea. Honestly, that was a coach who had no idea. Whether that’s because he sits on the interchange bench and didn’t have the stats in front of him or he wasn’t able to summarise what had gone on or whether he was just in shock, but that was as unimpressive a post-match media conference from a coach as I’ve heard all year,” Cornes remarked on AFL Nation.
“We can be critical at times but if you’re a Brisbane Lions supporter asking what’s going wrong, you got no answers from the coach, he’s got no idea what’s going on.
“That’s the biggest concern.”
Cornes did note a difficult draw as perhaps the only positive in Brisbane’s favour early in the season, but hit back at suggestions Fagan was asked unanswerable questions in the wake of a second consecutive disappointing loss.
“What was in the leadup, was it the wet game the week before, how did they review the previous week, what was training like, what was the intensity, was there any inkling there, what was the psyche of the players, how was the warmup? (Fagan) is the one that should know,” Cornes offered as what Fagan could have referred to.
“It was the most unimpressive post-match media conference I’ve heard. At least most coaches will give you some answer… there has to be a better answer than, ‘I have no idea’ and ‘we’ll watch the vision’.”
Thursday night’s loss to GWS followed a defeat at home against Geelong the week prior. Brisbane has also lost to Carlton, Fremantle and Collingwood, all of which are in the top 10 on the ladder.
Next week’s Q-Clash will be followed by games against Adelaide (15th), Richmond (17th) and Hawthorn (16th).