‘No tensions at all’ Brisbane Lions dismiss claims of player rift following off-season trip
There are no internal tensions at the Brisbane Lions, co-captain Harris Andrews insists, dismissing the impact of an off-season trip on the club’s poor AFL start.
Last year’s grand finalists are 0-3 ahead of Friday’s Gather Round date with North Melbourne, and feeling the heat after reports a few days away after the club’s 2023 exertions led to a dressing-room rift.
Lions football boss Danny Daly on Monday fronted media to deny there had been a “crisis meeting” after the allegations were aired on Friday.
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Daly said he had called co-captains Andrews and Lachie Neale to seek assurances there was no division within the playing group, and insisted no personal relationships had ended because of the trip.
“It’s been an interesting (Easter) from the club’s point of view,” he said.
“We reached out to our leaders and they reassured us ... there is no story.
“I always trust our playing group, that’s where it finished.
“The trip has nothing to do with our on-field performance.
“This group has been through a lot of highs together and a lot of adversity together. We have full confidence in them.”
Andrews, who was holidaying in Europe while a small group of teammates went away together in October and November, is confident the squad isn’t divided.
“Never any tension at all ... there’s nothing to be stressed about,” he said.
“There’s been a massive blow up (externally) over the last couple of days (but) as a group we’re united, all in this together. (We) can’t control what other people say.
“I’m not walking around going, ‘Oh there’s players bickering’.
“We haven’t had the start we wanted and people go outside the box to think of reasons why we’ve started this way.”
Neale didn’t train on Monday after injuring his ankle in the Lions’ 20-point loss to Collingwood last Thursday.
But the club said scans had cleared him of any ligament damage and expect him to face the Kangaroos, provided he participates in Wednesday’s main session.
