Crows to test how Lions handle AFL hype

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan is as interested as anyone to see how his young AFL team handle their increased media spotlight this week.

The Brisbane Lions hype train has gathered serious momentum - and coach Chris Fagan seems content to sit back and watch it either continue chugging along or crash off the rails.

Fagan said his players had every right to soak in "their moment" after last week's potentially era-defining victory over Hawthorn in Tasmania.

Long-suffering fans, too, are rejoicing at what appears to be the beginning of the end of Brisbane's status as a rebuilding AFL side.

The Lions' third win in a row has prompted an increased media spotlight on Fagan's young team, particularly from the AFL's dominant southern states, while Queensland footy has been little more than a footnote for the better part of a decade.

Fagan suspects Saturday night's clash against Adelaide at the Gabba will reveal how well they've dealt with the hype.

"It's probably been a foreign concept for this group to win matches in a row. It's been interesting to see how they've coped with it," Fagan told reporters on Friday.

"Suddenly the media and the attention around the footy club has changed.

"The best learning comes from mistakes and failures.

"It's like that even with your own kids - you can give them all the advice in the world but they usually go and try it anyway and work out it doesn't work and learn through experience.

"Footy's a little bit like that with young men. Our blokes are aware of all those sorts of things and we'll find out tomorrow night whether they've coped with the week or not."

Brisbane haven't strung four consecutive wins together since the opening rounds of the 2010 season.

The Crows, though, shape as a formidable assignment despite being a long way from the form that rocketed them to last year's grand final.

Skipper Taylor Walker is suspended, but they have regained key position pair Daniel Talia and Mitch McGovern from injury, the latter having been sidelined for 10 weeks.

The Lions are unchanged, and entitled to feel somewhat flattered that opposition teams have started rushing their stars back to play against them - rather than resting them from what used to be an easily winnable fixture.

"They're not yet at their full strength but they're certainly building," Fagan said.

"We know we're facing up against an Adelaide team that's got a bit more confidence and optimism than they've had in the last little while."


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Source: AAP


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Crows to test how Lions handle AFL hype | SBS News