Darcy Gardiner keen to taste premiership glory after missing Brisbane's 2024 grand final win
The Lions have fallen out of the top four after losing two of their past three games and still need a win from their remaining two regular season matches – which include Friday night's clash against fourth-placed Fremantle in Perth – to guarantee themselves a top-eight berth.
'We're in this position now where we have to win – that's all there is to it for us,' said Gardiner, who debuted for Brisbane in 2014 and has made 177 AFL appearances for the club.
Securing a top-eight berth would give the Lions a shot at reaching three successive grand finals and securing back-to-back flags.
Gardiner played in Brisbane's four-point loss to Collingwood in the 2023 decider but missed out on last season's premiership success after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in May last year.
Ironically, a season-ending knee injury suffered by Jack Payne two months ago gave Gardiner the chance to reclaim a permanent spot in Brisbane's backline, and the 29-year-old Queenscliff product is desperate for a chance to play in a winning grand-final team.
'It was disappointing last year … but it was still great for the club to win (the flag),' he said.
'I've got an opportunity now to have a crack at it if things go to plan. I'm pretty hungry. I'm at the pointy end of my career as well.
'I'm certainly not going to leave any stone unturned – that's for sure.'
A run of six successive AFL appearances has Gardiner feeling settled and match-hardened.
'I'm starting to dust the cobwebs off, and I'm not blowing down the house out there as much … and I'm building that relationship and synergy with the other guys down there (in the backline) and just working well with them,' he said.
However, the 'synergy' is being tested, with the Lions having been without four of their 2024 grand final defenders – Payne, Ryan Lester (concussion), Brandon Starcevich (hamstring) and Noah Answerth (achilles, season) – in their two-point loss to Sydney last Saturday night at the Gabba.
'We've seen in the past we've had guys come in, played roles and got it done. We think it happened on the weekend, we just didn't get the result,' Gardiner said.
Lester is set to return against the Dockers, but a decision is reportedly yet to be made on Starcevich.
Brisbane's injury list also includes co-captain Lachie Neale (quad), forward Kai Lohmann (calf), defender Keidean Coleman (quad) and utility Conor McKenna (hamstring).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
2 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Bulldogs star on verge of return, debutant picked
Injury-plagued Western Bulldogs star Adam Treloar is pressing to return via the VFL this week following his latest calf setback. Treloar won't play in the AFL against West Coast on Sunday, but father-son recruit Jordan Croft will. The 20-year-old was told he will make his AFL debut on Wednesday at training, after being drafted with pick 15 in 2023. Croft, who is 201cm tall, has kicked six goals in the VFL during the last two weeks and can play at either end of the ground. The son of Matthew continues a long line of father-sons at the Bulldogs, with Sam Darcy, Tom Liberatore and Rhylee West already established in the senior team. Coming off a career-best season in 2024 when he was named All-Australian for the first time, Treloar has been restricted to a career-low of just four games this year. The 32-year-old again trained strongly at the Whitten Oval on Wednesday, following a match simulation session last weekend. The Bulldogs will be extra careful with Treloar given his wretched run with soft-tissues this year. But the star midfielder is being strongly considered to play for Footscray in the VFL on Sunday when they host Carlton. "He's had a couple of good weeks, almost surprising weeks," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said of Treloar, who is a "chance" this week. "Encouraging stuff, to the point where now we can consider him for some state league minutes. "My philosophy around playing players who are under prepared is they can't compromise the team at any level. "But we believe that he won't, because he's done the necessary preparations. "We just need to firm it up, it's still early in the week and we've got another session on Friday." The Bulldogs need to win both of their remaining games against West Coast and Fremantle to be guaranteed of playing finals. Even if they only win one and finish the season on 14 wins, it will likely not be enough to qualify. If that happened the Bulldogs would have a strong case to be one of the most unlucky teams of all-time given 12 or 13 wins is usually enough to make finals, and no team has ever missed out with 14. Even if the Bulldogs and their VFL team make strong runs into the finals, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is increasingly unlikely to make an appearance at any level. The troubled forward has been back at training, at times, following an extended break. Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade believed Ugle-Hagan had "put himself back a couple more weeks". "The way the VFL is playing at the moment he might be lucky to get a game," Lade told 3AW on Sunday. Beveridge called Lade's comments "tongue-in-cheek". "I think it was more about how well Footscray are going, rather than Jamarra's preparation," Beveridge said. "Ladey' will live and learn. "That's the thing about taking lines like that in different contexts, it can come back to bite you. "So he's learned an early lesson, if he's hopefully part of that market for a senior coaching job." Beveridge was also bullish on the senior coach prospects of another assistant at the club. Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson said last week Bulldogs assistant Daniel Pratt was more than ready to be a senior coach. Injury-plagued Western Bulldogs star Adam Treloar is pressing to return via the VFL this week following his latest calf setback. Treloar won't play in the AFL against West Coast on Sunday, but father-son recruit Jordan Croft will. The 20-year-old was told he will make his AFL debut on Wednesday at training, after being drafted with pick 15 in 2023. Croft, who is 201cm tall, has kicked six goals in the VFL during the last two weeks and can play at either end of the ground. The son of Matthew continues a long line of father-sons at the Bulldogs, with Sam Darcy, Tom Liberatore and Rhylee West already established in the senior team. Coming off a career-best season in 2024 when he was named All-Australian for the first time, Treloar has been restricted to a career-low of just four games this year. The 32-year-old again trained strongly at the Whitten Oval on Wednesday, following a match simulation session last weekend. The Bulldogs will be extra careful with Treloar given his wretched run with soft-tissues this year. But the star midfielder is being strongly considered to play for Footscray in the VFL on Sunday when they host Carlton. "He's had a couple of good weeks, almost surprising weeks," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said of Treloar, who is a "chance" this week. "Encouraging stuff, to the point where now we can consider him for some state league minutes. "My philosophy around playing players who are under prepared is they can't compromise the team at any level. "But we believe that he won't, because he's done the necessary preparations. "We just need to firm it up, it's still early in the week and we've got another session on Friday." The Bulldogs need to win both of their remaining games against West Coast and Fremantle to be guaranteed of playing finals. Even if they only win one and finish the season on 14 wins, it will likely not be enough to qualify. If that happened the Bulldogs would have a strong case to be one of the most unlucky teams of all-time given 12 or 13 wins is usually enough to make finals, and no team has ever missed out with 14. Even if the Bulldogs and their VFL team make strong runs into the finals, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is increasingly unlikely to make an appearance at any level. The troubled forward has been back at training, at times, following an extended break. Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade believed Ugle-Hagan had "put himself back a couple more weeks". "The way the VFL is playing at the moment he might be lucky to get a game," Lade told 3AW on Sunday. Beveridge called Lade's comments "tongue-in-cheek". "I think it was more about how well Footscray are going, rather than Jamarra's preparation," Beveridge said. "Ladey' will live and learn. "That's the thing about taking lines like that in different contexts, it can come back to bite you. "So he's learned an early lesson, if he's hopefully part of that market for a senior coaching job." Beveridge was also bullish on the senior coach prospects of another assistant at the club. Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson said last week Bulldogs assistant Daniel Pratt was more than ready to be a senior coach. Injury-plagued Western Bulldogs star Adam Treloar is pressing to return via the VFL this week following his latest calf setback. Treloar won't play in the AFL against West Coast on Sunday, but father-son recruit Jordan Croft will. The 20-year-old was told he will make his AFL debut on Wednesday at training, after being drafted with pick 15 in 2023. Croft, who is 201cm tall, has kicked six goals in the VFL during the last two weeks and can play at either end of the ground. The son of Matthew continues a long line of father-sons at the Bulldogs, with Sam Darcy, Tom Liberatore and Rhylee West already established in the senior team. Coming off a career-best season in 2024 when he was named All-Australian for the first time, Treloar has been restricted to a career-low of just four games this year. The 32-year-old again trained strongly at the Whitten Oval on Wednesday, following a match simulation session last weekend. The Bulldogs will be extra careful with Treloar given his wretched run with soft-tissues this year. But the star midfielder is being strongly considered to play for Footscray in the VFL on Sunday when they host Carlton. "He's had a couple of good weeks, almost surprising weeks," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said of Treloar, who is a "chance" this week. "Encouraging stuff, to the point where now we can consider him for some state league minutes. "My philosophy around playing players who are under prepared is they can't compromise the team at any level. "But we believe that he won't, because he's done the necessary preparations. "We just need to firm it up, it's still early in the week and we've got another session on Friday." The Bulldogs need to win both of their remaining games against West Coast and Fremantle to be guaranteed of playing finals. Even if they only win one and finish the season on 14 wins, it will likely not be enough to qualify. If that happened the Bulldogs would have a strong case to be one of the most unlucky teams of all-time given 12 or 13 wins is usually enough to make finals, and no team has ever missed out with 14. Even if the Bulldogs and their VFL team make strong runs into the finals, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is increasingly unlikely to make an appearance at any level. The troubled forward has been back at training, at times, following an extended break. Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade believed Ugle-Hagan had "put himself back a couple more weeks". "The way the VFL is playing at the moment he might be lucky to get a game," Lade told 3AW on Sunday. Beveridge called Lade's comments "tongue-in-cheek". "I think it was more about how well Footscray are going, rather than Jamarra's preparation," Beveridge said. "Ladey' will live and learn. "That's the thing about taking lines like that in different contexts, it can come back to bite you. "So he's learned an early lesson, if he's hopefully part of that market for a senior coaching job." Beveridge was also bullish on the senior coach prospects of another assistant at the club. Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson said last week Bulldogs assistant Daniel Pratt was more than ready to be a senior coach.
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
Nat Fyfe retirement: Former coach Ross Lyon says nothing would make him happier than a Fremantle Dockers flag
The man who coached Nat Fyfe more than any other says nothing would make him happier than seeing the outgoing Fremantle legend get the premiership he deserves. Ross Lyon was at the helm for 133 of Fyfe's 245 games, including overseeing both Brownlow Medal campaigns in 2015 and 2019 and steering the Dockers into their historic 2013 grand final. Speaking for the first time since Fyfe's retirement announcement this week, the St Kilda coach praised Fyfe as an elite preparer and outstanding human who led from the front with his courage, including playing through Freo's 2015 preliminary final loss to Hawthorn with a fractured fibula. With the Saints out of finals contention, Lyon declared he wanted to see a Fremantle premiership to help Fyfe end his career on a fitting note. 'He was very, very special. He played with a fractured leg in that prelim, and without that fracture, I think we get those 15 (27) points,' Lyon said on Footy Classified. 'The only thing he's short of is a flag. Hopefully he gets the fairytale finish. Nothing would make me happier.' Fyfe had only just turned 20 when Lyon arrived at Fremantle to succeed Mark Harvey in late 2011. While the Lake Grace product had already underlined his immense potential by polling a club-best 13 Brownlow votes as a second-year player that year, Lyon said it wasn't until he took over as coach and witnessed his efforts first-hand that he gained a full appreciation for what he could do. 'I didn't know much about him when I first got there, and they were like, 'Fyfey, Fyfey, Fyfey'. I was thinking, 'Fyfe who?'' Lyon said. 'He came off a shoulder reconstruction, he hadn't played for 12 weeks. We went over to Port Adelaide, first game, no practice game, he had 20 to half time. 'I said 'Now I know who Fyfe is!'' The long-time mentor said he had been thrilled to be a part of Fyfe's ascension to one of the very best in the game, including some heroic final-term performances. 'I used to look at him at three-quarter time… I'd just look at him and give him a nod, and he'd go 'Yep',' Lyon said. 'I'd tell the rotations guys: 'He's not coming off (for the whole quarter)'. 'He'd just be like a diesel. He wouldn't come off and he'd help drag us across the line.'
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Nothing would make me happier' than Freo flag, says Lyon
The man who coached Nat Fyfe more than any other says nothing would make him happier than seeing the outgoing Fremantle legend get the premiership he deserves. Ross Lyon was at the helm for 133 of Fyfe's 245 games, including overseeing both Brownlow Medal campaigns in 2015 and 2019 and steering the Dockers into their historic 2013 grand final. Speaking for the first time since Fyfe's retirement announcement this week, the St Kilda coach praised Fyfe as an elite preparer and outstanding human who led from the front with his courage, including playing through Freo's 2015 preliminary final loss to Hawthorn with a fractured fibula. With the Saints out of finals contention, Lyon declared he wanted to see a Fremantle premiership to help Fyfe end his career on a fitting note. 'He was very, very special. He played with a fractured leg in that prelim, and without that fracture, I think we get those 15 (27) points,' Lyon said on Footy Classified. 'The only thing he's short of is a flag. Hopefully he gets the fairytale finish. Nothing would make me happier.' Lyon addressing Fyfe in 2018. Credit: Scott Barbour / AFL Media Fyfe had only just turned 20 when Lyon arrived at Fremantle to succeed Mark Harvey in late 2011. While the Lake Grace product had already underlined his immense potential by polling a club-best 13 Brownlow votes as a second-year player that year, Lyon said it wasn't until he took over as coach and witnessed his efforts first-hand that he gained a full appreciation for what he could do. 'I didn't know much about him when I first got there, and they were like, 'Fyfey, Fyfey, Fyfey'. I was thinking, 'Fyfe who?'' Lyon said. 'He came off a shoulder reconstruction, he hadn't played for 12 weeks. We went over to Port Adelaide, first game, no practice game, he had 20 to half time. 'I said 'Now I know who Fyfe is!'' Lyon and Fyfe after Fremantle's 2013 grand final defeat. Credit: Sean Garnsworthy / AFL Media The long-time mentor said he had been thrilled to be a part of Fyfe's ascension to one of the very best in the game, including some heroic final-term performances. 'I used to look at him at three-quarter time… I'd just look at him and give him a nod, and he'd go 'Yep',' Lyon said. 'I'd tell the rotations guys: 'He's not coming off (for the whole quarter)'. 'He'd just be like a diesel. He wouldn't come off and he'd help drag us across the line.'
