Lions hope sore AFL star only needs the weekend off
Keidean Coleman is smarting from the "shock" of his AFL return, with Brisbane coach Chris Fagan hopeful the Lions star will only be out for one game.
Coleman returned from his knee reconstruction in last weekend's loss to Melbourne and then went out of the side for the big game against Hawthorn on Saturday at the MCG.
Fagan said next week's six-day break was a factor and he was upbeat about Coleman returning for the Thursday night home game against Essendon.
"We just made the decision to give him a little bit longer to get ready," Fagan said on Friday.
"His knee was a little bit sore as well - there's nothing sinister there - but it's all just a part and parcel of not having played at the highest level for an extended period.
"We'll just see how that pans out. Hopefully he'll be right for Thursday.
"He got a shock with the difference in intensity between VFL and AFL footy ... it is poles apart."
Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney is also set to miss a second-straight game. He is listed as an emergency and will only play if Darcy Fort has to go out of the side.
"He was pretty banged up ... it's a pretty conservative approach," Fagan said.
While Brisbane's premiership defence is well-set with an 8-2 record and second spot on the ladder, they are coming of a bad last quarter against the Demons and the previous week's shock draw with North Melbourne.
They also have a five-game losing streak against the Hawks, having last beaten them in 2019.
But none of this is new territory for Fagan, who will coach his 200th AFL match this weekend.
Fagan noted the Lions took "a bit of a punt" on him and the gamble has paid off spectacularly.
What an amazing achievement 😍 pic.twitter.com/bxqiG3Ej0U
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) May 22, 2025
He joined Brisbane after playing a key role in Hawthorn's four-premiership era between 2008-15, as an assistant coach and football manager.
But his early days in Brisbane were hard going - Fagan noted they only won 10 of his first 44 games in charge.
He called his start "ground zero".
Back then, the focus was winning more quarters - then games, then seasons, ultimately finals and now premierships.
"Just like every other challenge - we've had hundreds of challenges over the years and they'll always keep presenting themselves in AFL footy," Fagan said of their losing stretch against the fourth-placed Hawks.
"It's all part of the ebb and flow ... sometimes these little quirky things pop up.
"It's just another one of those challenges and it's no bigger or smaller than any other one we've ever faced."
Fagan admitted he had allowed himself a pause to reflect on reaching the milestone. He is a rarity, having become a senior coach despite never playing in the AFL.
"I probably thought I'd never coach a game of AFL, let alone 200, so ... it's pretty special for me and my family," he said.
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