Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has challenged small forward Charlie Cameron to find a way to shake off Richmond defender Dylan Grimes in Saturday’s AFL qualifying final at the Gabba.
Grimes limited the Lions’ goalsneak to just seven touches in the Tigers’ 27-point round 23 win at the MCG, using a number of borderline physical contests to prevent Cameron getting a good run at the ball.
In the wake of the defeat, Fagan made a point of raising a couple of the challenges as part of his regular feedback to the AFL’s umpiring department.
He isn’t, however, expecting the umpires to make life easier for Cameron when he and Grimes face off again this weekend.
“After the game against Richmond, we did what we always do and we just asked them about a few of the decisions that were made both for and against us,” Fagan said.
“Included in that was a couple of the contests that Charlie was involved with.
“So yes we have asked the question about that but some other things as well.
“We think that probably Charlie needs to come up with a few more strategies to challenge Dylan Grimes and that’s what we’ve been working on over the last two weeks.
“We’re not expecting any favours from the umpires.
“It’s all about how Charlie goes about his work and how his teammates can help him and all those sorts of things.”
Fagan angrily rebuffed any suggestion that stopping Cameron from scoring stops the Lions from hitting the scoreboard.
While Cameron leads the Lions goalkicking with 54 majors far this year, Eric Hipwood (32), Dayne Zorko (22), Hugh McCluggage (22) and Lincoln McCarthy (20) have all kicked 20 goals or more this season.
“If you go and have a look, right, at all the AFL teams and who averages the most guys having a shot on goal per game it’s us, we’re No.1,” Fagan said.
“We have about eight-and-a-half goal kickers per game which is as good as anyone.
“That’s the answer to that question.
“Charlie’s been on fire lately and so the focus has gone on him but to win finals you need multiple avenues to goal.
“That’s what we’ll be looking for.”
