Unsung Brisbane Lions veteran Ryan Lester is proving to be one of those rare players who seem to get better with age. The 33-year-old was drafted back in 2010, debuted in 2011, and spent years on the fringes. Two premierships and 242 games later, he is now a highly respected member of the team and one of the first picked by coach Chris Fagan each week.
In the clash with Carlton on Friday night, he was one of Brisbane's best, arguably in the mix for the Robert Walls Medal for best on ground. The turnaround for Lester, who from 2019 has only received one-year contracts from the Lions, has been quite remarkable.
Now Fagan has admitted that Lester's transformation needs to be credited to AFL great and star Channel 7 commentator Luke Hodge. Quizzed by reporters on Friday night about the veteran, who has gone from the periphery to an automatic selection, Fagan confirmed it was Hodge's idea to lock Lester in as a half-back permanently.
"I think as much as anything, he found his position," Fagan said. "Because of his sort of size and shape, he played wing, he played mid, he played forward. Luke Hodge kept saying to me, 'I reckon he's a good half-back flanker, folks.' And eventually I put him there, and Hodge, he was right. His career's blossomed from that point in time. So, yeah, maybe some maturity as well, but I think just finding the right spot for him."
Fagan said Lester was having a "really good" season and his effort against Carlton, with 20 disposals at 95 per cent efficiency and a game-high 11 marks, "was wonderful." "I know Lachie Neale won the Robert Walls medal, but Ryan Lester could easily have won it as well, I think," Fagan said. "He's just so reliable, such a team-orientated man. It's a credit to him."
Channel 7 star Abbey Holmes said Lester's transformation was one of the "great stories" in the AFL. "I've been very lucky," Lester told Holmes after Friday night's game. "I hung in there for a long part of my career, and I've certainly played my best footy in the last couple of years, and to be a part of this team is very cool. So I'll keep going and try to do my little bit for the team, and hopefully we can keep winning."
Lester also paid credit to Fagan. "I think one of his strengths, obviously, when we were not very good, he was giving us belief," Lester said. "And now he sort of sells a message around pressure and defence, and all the clips that we watch in meetings are all about that, rather than the goals we kick. So I think what the messaging he puts out is what we try and do out on game day. And obviously it's worked the last couple of years and so far this season."
Fagan said he was happy to walk away with an 11-point win over Carlton, despite the fact his team was in an unexpected struggle in the second half. "It's hard to win impressively every week in this competition," Fagan said. "And I was worried about this game because I actually have a fair bit of time for Carlton and the way they play their footy. We've won six of our last seven games. So our form is pretty strong. Our other wins have been by bigger margins, and they've probably been stronger performances, but in this long marathon of a football season, sometimes you just go, 'take the points.'"
The Lions host the Cats at the Gabba on Thursday and should welcome back Jarrod Berry, while Darcy Gardiner is also expected to be available. Eric Hipwood is about six weeks away from returning from his latest round of knee surgery while Noah Answerth is unlikely to be rushed back into the fold. Ty Gallop also missed the Blues clash and could return to face Geelong. Brisbane improved to 6-3 after winning their last three games over the Blues, Adelaide and Essendon. Their last loss was against a resurgent Melbourne at the MCG in Round 6. With AAP.
