The reason why Fagan never gave up on season 2024 + the three home games that will dictate Lions’ fate

Chris Fagan says his Brisbane Lions never lost confidence despite a slow start to the season, with several big home games set to define whether they can play finals.

Fresh off a 20-point triumph over St Kilda – Brisbane’s third win in four games – Fagan joined SEN’s Crunch Time and spoke about what Friday night’s result meant for the Lions.

Brisbane has never been in the top eight in 2024 and haven’t been higher than 12th on the ladder since Round 6.

But now with their ledger squared for the first time, the Lions have a platform for the back half of 2024.

“I’ve always felt we were right in it because our statistics said we were… we just haven’t been able to turn around good scoring opportunities in the games we have lost,” Fagan said.

“So we didn’t lose any confidence. The break came at a good time, the players freshened up a bit… there’s not much margin for error when you’ve already lost six games but we’re just looking at each game and trying to win at every opportunity, not looking too far ahead.

“We just see it as a challenge. We’ve not been in this position for a long time, can we work out way out of it and if we can… whether it helps us to achieve anything this year or not, it helps us going forward.

“That’s our attitude and since that’s been our attitude we’ve been playing a lot better. We’ll keep doubling down on that.”

The Lions will be no more than six points out of the top eight come the end of Round 14 and Brisbane has already had the bye.

After falling excruciatingly short of a flag last year, Fagan’s Lions were expected to kick on in 2024 and challenge again. The 62-year-old coach still believes that can happen.

David King believes a number of home games will determine Brisbane’s fate in 2024, with the Lions 3-3 at home this year.

“These are their home games. Melbourne (Round 16) are now gettable, Adelaide is gettable, Sydney (Round 19), GWS (Round 22) and Essendon (Round 24). That’s their real challenge for me,” King said.

Brisbane never lost at the Gabba in 2023 but lost their first three at home this season.