Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan is playing it cool ahead of a Gabba rematch with the Collingwood Magpies on Friday.
A 62-point hiding from the Magpies at a sold-out Gabba was a rare sore point in the Lions’ breakout 2019 season.
Sitting third with four rounds to play, Fagan’s side will get another chance against an in-form Collingwood (sixth) that ran away from Carlton on Sunday.
Hot on the heels of the Gabba’s grand-final venue confirmation, the anticipated clash shapes as the perfect stage to learn from last year’s disappointment.
“We have to take it in our stride … last year we got the opportunity to play Collingwood here on a Thursday night and I thought we were a little bit overawed,” Fagan said.
“I thought we carried on as a club a little too much, it’s been pretty low key this week.
“We just want to put a performance on the board, that’s all we care about.”
The coach said his side had responded well to their 12-day break, which came after narrow wins against North Melbourne and St Kilda muddied by errant goal kicking.
With Lincoln McCarthy suspended, Academy product Keidean Coleman will become the sixth Lions debutant this season.
The 20-year-old should also be joined by veteran defender Daniel Rich (hamstring) as they look to snap a six-year losing drought against the Magpies.
“We don’t muck around, we’ll bring him in (for a big game),” Fagan said of Coleman.
“He’s a really clever half-forward, beautiful skills, great balance, good tackler.
“He moved from Darwin with his mother … for a crack and 10 years later he gets his debut … they’ll (his family) all have big smiles on their faces.”
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