‘He can do things others can’t’: Scott praises Caddy as Lions reveal Fagan roast that spurred win

“He’s just a really impressive athlete, and he can do things that others can’t. Not many 19 -year-olds can, you know, when Peter Wright is in the ruck and Todd Goldstein is having a well-earned rest, he’s holding up a forward line.

“I can’t recall too many 19-year-olds doing that, and he’s been terrific for us, and we still think there’s so much upside. So clearly we’re excited.”

The Bombers were able to overcome a slow and sloppy opening term through the midfield work of Nic Martin (two goals) and Jye Caldwell.

Scott said Jade Gresham had been troubled by a knock to the thigh during the match, while Sam Durham had to overcome a painful ankle injury suffered in the first term.

The Bombers sent their chief ball-winner, Zach Merrett, behind the ball after quarter-time because they were a player short in defence.

“We ran out of defenders,” Scott said. “We had five, so we had to get one from somewhere, and we did it last week a little bit against Richmond.

“We think that he’s a class act, wherever he is on the ground. It certainly wasn’t to stabilise the game. It was just a matter of shuffling the magnets a little bit to try and get some balance in our team. And we love him off half-back.

“But the problem probably with us at the moment is that we would love three or four players in three or four different positions all at once, so you’ve got to make a decision. “

Scott was thrilled with the efforts of the undermanned and inexperienced Bombers, who had several teenagers in their side, including Zak Johnson on debut.

“A huge step forward for us,” Scott said. “A huge step forward in terms of everything – the character, fight, effort, contest, exuberance of youth, young players who don’t use that as an excuse.

“We think the players that we selected are capable and that’s been our message to them, and they held up their end of the bargain.”

Last year’s Norm Smith Medallist had 12 disposals in the final term to help steer Brisbane to victory – 13.12 (90) to 11.6 (72).

Fagan said it had been challenging for his side to come off a five-day break and a six-day break across their past fortnight.

“We’re glad we’ve got an eight-day break now until our next game (against Adelaide),” the Lions coach said.

“The Hawthorn game was a big game for us (last week), like hadn’t beaten them for a long time, and really worked hard to get ourselves up to play.

“It was always a little bit of a danger tonight that maybe we would be a little bit off because of that and the short turnaround.”

Fagan said Brisbane could have been further in front considering they had won the inside-50 count 62 to 53 and restricted Essendon’s marking game.

The Lions coach said he had been critical at three-quarter time because their pressure and hunt had dropped away.

He said Hugh McCluggage’s game for the Lions was “huge”.

“That’s a big game, 41 (possessions) and five score assists and 11 score involvements and lots of clearances,” Fagan said.

“I don’t know how many times he kicked it inside 50, but it was a huge performance.

“He’s probably worked harder on the defensive side of his game, both to get his body stronger, but also to get involved more in that - I think he had 11 tackles or something last week.

“He’s always been really good with the ball, but he’s one of those fellas who is forever trying to improve.

“I hope at some point in time he wins an All-Australian guernsey because he’s been such a consistent player for us for the last six years.

“The leadership he displays around the footy club, he goes about it in a quiet manner, which is effective. He’s a silent assassin out there.”

Despite the Lions sitting second on the ladder and the Bombers coming into the game with an inexperienced side, McCluggage said there was no such thing as an easy game.

“You know every game is going to be a grind, and we’ve learned that lesson time and time again,” he said.

“If you’re a few per cent off, you get found out, and the Bombers are going really well.

“They’re a young side, but they’re six and four. They’ve only had two less wins than us through the year, so evidently, we didn’t take it lightly.

“In that third quarter, they really came out hard, and I’m really proud of our group for bouncing back in that last quarter.”