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Brisbane coach Chris Fagan wants Hugh McCluggage to be recognised for his brilliant efforts
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan wants Hugh McCluggage to be recognised for his brilliant efforts

News.com.au

time6 days ago

  • General
  • News.com.au

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan wants Hugh McCluggage to be recognised for his brilliant efforts

Lions coach Chris Fagan has called for Brisbane's 'silent assassin' Hugh McCluggage to be rewarded with All-Australian selection after another superb display at the Gabba on Thursday night. McCluggage produced a best-on-ground performance with a career-high 41 disposals, including five score assists and 11 score involvements, in Brisbane's 18-point win over Essendon. 'Hughy McCluggage's game was huge,' Fagan said. 'He goes about it in a quiet manner but he's effective, a silent assassin out there.' McCluggage, 27, has made four All-Australian squads but is yet to make the final team in his eight previous AFL seasons. 'I hope at some point in time he wins an All-Australian guernsey because he's been such a consistent player for us for the last six years. The first couple of years he was developing. 'He's one of those fellows who is forever trying to improve. He's probably worked harder on the pressure defensive side of his game, both to get his body stronger but also to get involved more in that. 'That's a part of his game that's grown, and he's always been really good with the ball.' McCluggage's influence was critical on Thursday night as the Lions were forced to dig deep after Essendon fought back from being 32 points down at quarter time to take the lead eight minutes into the final quarter. 'At this time of the year, you're just happy to get the wins,' Fagan said. 'We did what we had to do when they got in front. There was good composure in the group just to build the ball up and to get scores. 'I like that about us. In AFL footy, every game is tough. In the end, we fought it out really well, showed good composure, and we'll take a little bit of confidence from that.' 'Confidence' is also building in Kai Lohmann, who kicked three goals on Thursday after failing to boot a major in his previous six appearances this season. 'He turned the corner last week (against Hawthorn). He got his pressure game back last week, and I reckon it was there again (against Essendon) and he got a little bit of a scoreboard reward,' Fagan said of the premiership-winning forward. 'I'm just hoping for him that he gets some confidence from that because it has been difficult for him. 'He set a high bar for himself last year, he's been injured a lot (this season). It looked like he was injured early in the game (on Thursday night). 'He hobbled off, but he was all good, and he helped us win the game.'

Essendon coach Brad Scott leaves Brisbane a happy man after leading reigning premiers in final quarter
Essendon coach Brad Scott leaves Brisbane a happy man after leading reigning premiers in final quarter

News.com.au

time6 days ago

  • General
  • News.com.au

Essendon coach Brad Scott leaves Brisbane a happy man after leading reigning premiers in final quarter

Essendon coach Brad Scott says the Bombers took a 'huge step forward' at the Gabba on Thursday night despite an 18-point loss to Brisbane that defied pre-game thoughts of doom and gloom for his injury-ravaged club. Scott lauded superstar draftee Nate Caddy, declaring his two-goal effort against the Lions was the 'best game he's played' and left the Gabba happy in the wake of defeat. Trailing by 32 points at quarter-time, the undermanned Bombers clawed their way into the contest and hit the front in the final quarter. However, the Lions regrouped, kicking the final three goals of the game to win 13.12 (90) to 11.6 (72). 'They were dominant clearly to start the game and jumped us, but I thought we wrestled our way back into the contest really well,' Scott said. 'It wasn't as if I felt like we let it slip. We fought our way back in, got back in front, and they responded as good teams do.' Scott was proud of his young team's 'fight' and 'exuberance'. 'It was a huge step forward for us in terms of everything – character, fight, effort, contest, the exuberance of youth, young players who don't use that as an excuse,' he said. 'We have expectations. We think those players that we selected are capable and that's been our message to them, and they held up their end of the bargain. 'There were a number of critical contests where our players stood up, but to Brisbane's credit, they're a good side, and when challenged, they respond. 'We were able to defend reasonably well but not well enough over the course of the game to be considered a top-tier side, but if you're going to test out your defence, playing against Brisbane at the Gabba is a good way to do that. 'The foundation of the game is the contest, and I think that that stood up fairly well tonight.' The Bombers also stood up well in attack, particularly in the third quarter when Caddy kicked a contender for goal of the season during an impressive burst that gave the Bombers hope of causing an upset. 'That's the best game I've seen him play and not just because of the goal over his head,' Scott said of Caddy. 'He's going to learn that he's capable of challenging the best key defenders (Harris Andrews) in the competition. 'He's just a really impressive athlete, and he can do things that others can't. 'There's not many 19-year-olds who can, when Peter Wright's in the ruck and Todd Goldstein's having a well-earned rest, he's holding up, you know, a forward line. 'I can't recall too many 19-year-olds doing that. He's been terrific for us, and we still think there's so much upside, so clearly we're excited.'

Lions fight back to deny Essendon the ‘upset of the year'
Lions fight back to deny Essendon the ‘upset of the year'

News.com.au

time7 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • News.com.au

Lions fight back to deny Essendon the ‘upset of the year'

Brisbane has survived an inspired challenge from injury-ravaged Essendon to climb to the top of the AFL ladder with an 18-point win on Thursday night. It was a brave fightback from the Bombers after coughing up six of the first seven goals of the match at the Gabba. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Young Bomber Nate Caddy's breakout game sparked an Essendon fightback in the third term as the visitors drew level. 'Not a person in Australia would have given them a hope at quarter time,' Fox Footy's Jonathan Brown said. Dubbing it potentially the 'upset of the year' as Peter Wright gave the Bombers the lead early in the fourth, in the end Brisbane's experience got them across the line with a 13.12 (90) to 11.6 (72) victory. The reigning premiers now sit half a game clear of Collingwood, who have a game in hand, and six points clear of the third-placed Suns who have played two less games. 'I think Chris Fagan would be really disappointed about the Lions tonight,' three-time premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt said. 'They get the points and roll on.' The highlight of the night was Caddy's goal of the year contender in the wet conditions. Only minutes after a horror miss, Caddy more than made up for that effort with a stunning goal. With Jade Gresham keeping the ball alive from the boundary, Caddy was able to gather the footy and instead of attempting to turn around he simply opted to kick the footy over his head. 'It's a miraculous goal from the young man and we're all square at the Gabba,' Fox Footy's Matt Hill said. 'A Thursday night speccy!' The goal ensured scores were level for the first time since early in the first term. 'How good is that?' Riewoldt said. 'He took the big contested mark only about 10 minutes ago and ran into the open goal and missed it. 'I love this. I don't know whether this is conventional, but we love it from this Bombers young gun. 'The kick over the head. He absolutely flushed it. The nous to even think about doing it at that point in time. 'Is this the arrival of Nate Caddy?' It wasn't quite enough for the visitors, but it ended up being a promising performance from the Bombers against the ladder leaders.

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