Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has confirmed that defender Tom Doedee is on track to make his long-awaited AFL debut for the club after a prolonged battle with knee injuries.
Fagan praised Doedee’s persistence and underlined that his expectations are grounded in reliability rather than heroics.
“He just needs to perform his role reliably rather than do anything extraordinary,” the coach said.
The news comes as Brisbane also carefully manages the fitness of several key players in the lead-up to finals, including Jarrod Berry, who has been recovering from a shoulder problem. Fagan stressed that the Lions would not take any unnecessary risks with Berry or other stars, prioritizing long-term readiness
over short-term gains.
With September football looming, the Lions are striking a balance between introducing fresh energy in Doedee and preserving the health of experienced campaigners for a decisive finals run.
