Lions coach Chris Fagan isn't expecting heroics from Tom Doedee in his first AFL appearance for Brisbane
The former Crows defender will replace the injured Ryan Lester (concussion) in Brisbane's backline in Saturday's clash against Sydney at the Gabba.
It was a Lions AFL debut that was supposed to come a lot earlier for Doedee, who just days before he was set to play for Brisbane against Collingwood in March last year after recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in 2023 playing for Adelaide sustained the same injury at training.
Fagan praised the resilience of Doedee, who had to overcome the physical and mental tolls of back-to-back ACL injuries before believing he was again ready for AFL football.
Trying to win a place in Brisbane's premiership-winning team also hasn't been easy, but Doedee's solid form in a run of VFL games has convinced Fagan that he's ready for an AFL return.
We're excited to announce that Tom will be making his club debut this Saturday! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/GgmDDdvlER
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) August 7, 2025
'We recruited him to our club, he was about to play his first game last year, and he did his knee again at training the week before, so it's a good story of persistence, and I'm sure he'll make the most of that opportunity,' Fagan said.
'He feels like he's ready. It's probably a good time to give him opportunity.'
Fagan isn't expecting miracles from Doedee and just wants the 28-year-old Geelong Falcons product to 'do his job'.
'He hasn't played (in the AFL) since the middle of 2023, so it's a long time between drinks,' the Lions coach said.
'I won't say too much to him, just encourage him. I don't want to add to the noise.
'He's a professional. He's been around a long time. He's just got to do his job.
'When you speak to players that are in that position, it's just go out and play your role. You don't have to be anything remarkable, just be reliable and do what you've got to do.'
While Lester is expected to return for Brisbane's away clash with Fremantle next Friday night, the Lions aren't expected to bring back co-captain Lachie Neale from a quad injury he suffered in last Saturday's win over Collingwood until the first week of the finals series next month.
'It's one of those injuries that, if you saw him run (at training on Thursday), you'd think 'why isn't he playing'?' Fagan said of the two-time Brownlow medallist.
'It's probably the threat that if he does something more to it, it'll be a lot worse, so we've got to nip it in the bud now, and he should be OK in three weeks' time.
'He'll be able to train quite hard over the next few weeks, and it might even freshen him up.
'You lose players during the season, and we've got a really strong midfield, so we expect other boys who have already stepped up all year will just continue to do that.
'We'd rather have Lachie in our team than not, but it's not the end of the world.'
Collingwood's loss to Hawthorn on Thursday has increased Brisbane's hopes of finishing in the top two, but Fagan said he wasn't thinking about the ladder.
'You make one mistake and you're in strife,' he said.
'It's not worth spending emotional energy on looking at the ladder and trying to predict what might happen. It's just about here and now and do your best to get it done.'
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