“Nothing to do with it”: Lions address reports of player tension from US holiday after 0-3 start
Brisbane has moved to shut down suggestions a slow start to 2024 is the result of an end-of-year trip to the US that caused some unrest between the playing group.
As first reported by 3AW last week, some players have had their personal relationships strained as a result of WhatsApp messages from the US that were accessed back home.
An 0-3 start to 2024 for Brisbane, the reigning Grand Finalists, has seen it become a talking point in recent days.
But footy boss Danny Daly told media on Monday morning that the two are not related and shot down a report in the Herald Sun that crisis meetings were held by the club.
“I want to confirm there (were) no crisis meetings over the weekend. I called our co-captains (Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews) to confirm there was no issues in the playing group – and both of them assured me that there weren’t. I will again strongly say today there is no divide in our playing group,” Daly told reporters.
“The trip has nothing to do with our on-field performance and we will not use it as any type of excuse.
“This group has been through a lot of highs together and a lot of adversities together and we have full confidence in them they will continue to stick together.
“I want to assure our members and fans most importantly that this group is fully united as a playing group and fully focused on turning our season around.
“I ask the privacy of our players, their partners and families be respected.”
WATCH: Sam Edmund breaks down the Brisbane holiday controversy on SEN’s Crunch Time
"They were never there... Vegas has nothing to do with it." @Sammy__Edmund with the latest on the developing story out of Brisbane and the calls made to both co-captains. #CrunchTime | #AFL pic.twitter.com/wdKGF4oBsq
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) March 30, 2024
After five years of playing finals under Chris Fagan – and finishing in the top four in four of those seasons – Brisbane is under pressure to reestablish itself as a powerhouse of the competition.
Daly did confirm that he spoke to Neale and Andrews to canvass the opinion of the playing group.
However, he said both co-captains were resolute that it was a non-issue.
“We reached out to our leaders and co-captains. They reassured us there is nothing there, no story. It’s not the reason we’re 0-3,” Daly explained.
“I quickly spoke to our leaders over the phone, there was no meetings per se. I spoke to both leaders for about one minute to ask them if there was any truth in it. They categorically told me there wasn’t.
“I trust my playing group and I will always trust our playing group. That’s where it finished ... the club didn’t have a crisis meeting.”
The Lions recorded two impressive wins in the pre-season and their first quarter against Carlton in Opening Round had many pundits drooling about how Brisbane could fare in 2024.
But losses to the Blues, Fremantle and now Collingwood have the club in trouble.
Brisbane was 13th after Round 3 in 2021 and 14th at the same time last year before going on to earn a double chance on both occasions.