{"id":87919,"date":"2026-09-04T06:33:07","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T06:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/87919\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T06:33:07","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T06:33:07","slug":"craig-starcevich-confident-lions-can-recover-from-aflw-slow-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/87919\/","title":{"rendered":"Craig Starcevich confident Lions can recover from AFLW slow start"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brisbane AFLW coach Craig Starcevich has backed the Lions to get themselves out of a \u201cmini crisis\u201d following a slow and injury-riddled start to the team\u2019s 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n

Heading into Saturday night\u2019s clash against the GWS Giants at Brighton Homes Arena, the Lions have lost two of their three games this season, including a heavy 56-point away defeat against Melbourne last weekend.<\/p>\n

Brisbane\u2019s cause isn\u2019t being helped by an injury list that currently includes Ally Anderson (hamstring), Ruby Svarc (concussion), Marlo Graham (concussion) and Neasa Dooley (collarbone), while the unavailable Courtney Hodder is yet to play this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always tell our group to be ready for the unexpected, and we\u2019ve had a bit of that this year,\u201d Starcevich said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery year there are no guarantees.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Lions are no strangers to recovering from slow starts to seasons, with Starcevich confident of a similar resurgence, starting this weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d much rather be three-and-zip rather than chasing the game a little bit. It\u2019s something we\u2019ve done before, but it\u2019s not preferable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt does make us hungry and desperate, which I like. If you have your team coming in with that attitude every week, that\u2019s where you want them to be, but you\u2019d much rather have a better win-loss record.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starcevich\u2019s confidence has been forged by positive meetings he has had this week with team leaders.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re strong and positive and terrific people, and I\u2019m expecting them to lead us through this mini crisis and get us back on track again,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to have to be right on our game. It\u2019s really important for us that we get big support.\u201d<\/p>\n

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