Chris Fagan has handed fans an explanation for Ty Gallop's inclusion in the Brisbane Lions' semi-final team to face Adelaide on Saturday night, amid fears the side may be too tall.
Gallop comes in at the expense of Noah Answerth - a lockdown defender, handed the opposition's most dangerous small forward each week - who sustained a minor ankle injury in the side's horror qualifying final loss at Sydney's hands.
Fagan backs the versatility of one of his favourite veterans to counteract the side's relative height.
“They've got three big forwards that are dangerous," Fagan said.
"We've always felt that Ryan Lester can play that swingman role in defence - he can play small, he can play tall, so that's the reason why we went with that this week.”
Asked whether or not the absence of Answerth's magnet may allow Adelaide's fleet of dangerous small hybrids to take over the game, Fagan doubled down.
“I don't think so,” citing the aforementioned utility of Lester. “I don't see this final coming down to that, to be honest with you. What it will come down to is the collective - how fierce we are in the contest and how willing we are to bounce back from last week.”
“We'll obviously spend a little bit of time on him (Rankine) because he's been in great form, but they've got some other really good players. (Jordan) Dawson's a really great midfielder. (Josh) Rachele is dangerous up forward, so are their three talls. (All-Australian Wayne) Milera's pretty good rebounding off half-back. They've got some weapons.
“It doesn't come down to stopping any one player; that will make the difference in this game. It comes down to how we respond and the collective effort."
Answerth was faultless in a recent assignment on the ever-dangerous Hawk, Nick Watson, and may be in the frame to reprise that role, should the Lions progress to a preliminary final against Hawthorn.
“I think he's a chance to play next weekend. He hasn't done any running at all at this point in time."
Fagan was also very quick to leap to the defence of Hugh McCluggage, who had his colours lowered in his return from injury in the loss to the under-siege Swans.
“He's actually a champion. He's an All–Australian, and he's been out for about six weeks. We'll give him that game," Fagan said.
Asked if there was any perceptible difference between the side's preparation this week as opposed to last, Fagan was crystal clear with veteran journalist, Michael Whiting.
“I didn't see any signs last week, Michael," Fagan replied.
"Everything we did last week was really good, until we got to the game, but that's when you see the real mindset come out. There wasn't a laziness at training; there wasn't any apathy at all.
"I think deep down, in the back of their minds, they just thought this is going to be an easier game than what it turned out to be. And when you do that in elite sport, you cop it.”
“This week has been heads down, work hard, get ready to go.”
Fagan admitted the club was buoyed by the re-signings of Zac Bailey and club legend Dayne Zorko this week.
“It's good news," he said.
"We always knew ‘Zorks' wasn't going to go anywhere, but it's good that he signed on and is going again.
"There's been a lot of debate around where Zac would end up. Personally, I think he was always going to stay with us - he just wanted to take his time to make that decision, and now he's made it, and he's stayed with us because he thinks we're a really good football club, despite all the other offers from elsewhere."
