Lions coach Chris Fagan says he’s unsure whether to recall prized off-season recruit Oscar Allen for Brisbane’s battle with Port Adelaide on Sunday as he wrestles with tinkering with a winning combination and the former West Coast star’s lack of football.
Allen made his return from a long-term foot injury last Friday for Brisbane’s VFL side in a 16-point loss to Sydney at Tramway Oval.
The tall forward kicked a goal in a solid display; however, Fagan said it was tough to judge whether Allen was ready for a top-flight return due to the match having been played in wet conditions.
“Unfortunately, it was torrential rain for most of it, so it was a little hard to tell whether Oscar’s in any form or not,” Fagan said on Thursday.
“It was just one of those days that was not great for forwards, so it’s a tough decision (about whether to promote Allen) this week. I’m not sure which way we’ll go.”
Allen could be named in an extended Lions squad on Thursday night, but Fagan has until Friday night to finalise his line-up for the Gabba clash where a Brisbane win would stretch the back-to-back premiers’ unbeaten run to seven games.
“It’s really hard to change a team that’s winning and to make change for change’s sake,” the Lions coach said.
“(Allen) understands where he’s at. The truth is, he hasn’t played (in the AFL) since (April 26) this year, and he’s missed a lot of football over the previous two years.
“We just want to make sure that when he does get back into the AFL team, whether that’s this weekend or next or whenever, that he’s in the best shape to be as great a contributor to our team effort that he can be.”
Fagan said he would have no hesitation selecting three tall forwards when Allen was ready for an AFL return.
“We’ve played with a third tall for a lot of our history over the last few years, so we’re pretty much still playing the same way as we have done in previous years, so it wouldn’t change a thing,” he said.
“The game always moves and evolves, and sometimes what’s worked in the past won’t work in the here and now … (but) we recruited him here because we know he’s a very good forward and can help us.”
Fagan was confident that veteran defender Dayne Zorko, who experienced “hamstring awareness” during Brisbane’s win over West Coast last Saturday, would be fit to face Port.
“He’s been looked at medically this week, and as far as I know, he’s right to play,” Fagan said of the former Brisbane captain.