Tom Doedee’s looming availability has put Brisbane defenders on notice

The impending availability of new recruit Tom Doedee has put Brisbane’s backline on notice ahead of the Lions’ battle with Fremantle on Sunday.

The Lions will chase redemption at Optus Stadium after giving up a 46-point second-quarter lead to lose 13.8 (86) to 12.13 (85) to Carlton in last Friday’s Opening Round clash at the Gabba.

Doedee, who joined the Lions in the off-season from Adelaide, is almost ready to return to action after being sidelined since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in June last year.

The 27-year-old defender could be available for Brisbane’s grand final rematch with Collingwood on March 28 at the Gabba.

“A character like Tom, in amongst the group he’s fitted in seamlessly, and he’s a really smart footballer so he’ll be able to slot in quite easily into our back six or seven,” Lions backline member Brandon Starcevich said.

“Definitely it puts the pressure on you a little bit to try to perform. Hopefully you’re not the guy that misses out … he’s a quality player.

“He’s probably been stiff with injuries over his career, but his best is really good, so it definitely puts the pressure on all of us back there.”

Brisbane will also need to overcome the loss of star half-back Keidean Coleman, who will miss the rest of the season after suffering his own ACL injury in the Lions’ loss to the Blues.

“It’s going to be tough. He’s a very important player for us,” Starcevich said.

“Over the last couple of years he’s really shown how much he brings to the team, and can really tear apart defences and kick-start our ball movement, so it’s going to be collective effort from all of us to fill his role.

“We’ve had a lot of guys that have played in the backline at times. A lot of guys have been exposed to that role over the last year or so, so I think everyone’s got a pretty good understanding of what’s required.”

In better news for the Lions, another of their backline stars, Irishman Connor McKenna, is available for selection this weekend after recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered in a pre-season intra-club trial.

Starcevich was confident the Lions would bounce back from their Opening Round loss.

“I don’t think a whole lot needs to change really because we did a lot of stuff right,” he said.

“It was probably just that we might have got comfortable and they jumped us and stacked (goals) up pretty quickly.

“We had our chances in the third quarter as well. We just didn’t take them. It’s a different story if we convert them.”