Source : the age
Crows coach Matthew Nicks has painted a positive picture about the potential of his side and his suitability to lead them after their semifinals exit.
Nicks said the Crows were building “something special” but needed more time and improvement.
“There are no guarantees in footy but I’m confident in where we are at and the conversations that are ongoing with the leaders of our football club and my colleagues,” Nicks said.
“We will continue to work together. We have great forward momentum as a football club. We are building something special but we are not there yet.
In the moments after fierce team meeting with coach Chris Fagan last Monday, Zac Bailey chose to tell his coach that he was signing a long-term deal with the club.
It turned out to be a boost for everyone at the club, even if Fagan had taken time during the meeting to “spray” the free agent midfielder for his shortcomings against Sydney.
“We had a pretty uncomfortable meeting, where he sprayed us a bit,” Bailey told Kayo Sports.
“It was bad timing as I walked up to him after the meeting and told him I was going to stay.”
An emotional Adelaide forward Taylor Walker has bid farewell to the AFL in the last game of his career.
He received a guard of honour from the Lions and Crows while his family greeted him before he left the ground.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more, I’m very appreciative of the career I’ve had,” Walker told Seven.
“I’ve done it for 19 years. I remember the time the club rang me and told me they were going to take me.
“I was sitting at Broken Hill Airport with my Nan and 19 years later, it’s all over.”
Lions coach Chris Fagan admits his side faced a “fierce week” in the lead-up to this game following the loss to Sydney last weekend.
Fagan was honest about his disappointment last week and he followed that up with the way to treated his side this week.
“It was a pretty fierce week,” Fagan told Kayo Sports.
“Pretty blunt vision to look at. Us being lazy and being poor last week. Effort stats.
Lions star Cam Rayner admits he felt the pressure leading into tonight’s semi-final but both he and his teammates responded in their thumping win over the Crows.
Rayner said coach Chris Fagan put it on his side to respond to their poor loss to Sydney in the qualifying final.
“We felt the pressure during the week and Fages put it on us to respond,” Rayner told Kayo Sports.
“In the end, we can talk all we want but we wanted to come out today and make sure our actions were right. It was a great response.
“He [Fagan] was a bit nasty during the week. I feel like it was a really good time to reflect and see what we really want to do in the next few weeks.
“I don’t think I’ve been that nervous before a game for a long time and, normally, you can focus that nervous energy and turn it into aggression.”
FRIDAY
Sydney Swans vs Fremantle Dockers, SCG, Friday, 7.40pm AEST
SATURDAY
Hawthorn Hawks v Brisbane Lions, MCG, Saturday 5.15pm AEST
Both sides have shown some lovely touches post game with the Lions giving Walker plenty of respect and love.
There was also a beautiful little moment between two-time Lions premiership player Callum Ah Chee, who now plays for the Crows, as he went over to Chris Fagan and gave him a hug.
Walker appears to be shedding a few tears as his departure sinks in.
Brisbane’s dream of a third premiership in a row is alive and well, while Adelaide’s title hopes are gone following a one-sided clash at a sold out Gabba.
The Lions kicked the first goal 30 seconds in and were never headed – they were dominant and now take on Hawthorn in next Saturday’s preliminary final for another grand final place.
They will take some beating too.
Taylor Walker has booted a second goal in the final term to reach 715 AFL goals.
The Walker family were shown soon after shedding some tears, as you would expect after the career he has had.
His wife, kids and his family are all in the crowd which is fitting.
