Brisbane must choose one of two options during the off-season to fix a big flaw, says David King.
The Lions bundled out of the finals in straight sets on Saturday night after a nail-biting loss to the Western Bulldogs, reducing Chris Fagan’s record in finals to just one win from six games.
King believes both their finals losses this year came from the same issue that's prone to being exposed during finals footy.
“They’ve done a lot right, but with what they’ve done wrong it’s so pure against you, it hurts you,” King told SEN'S Whateley.
“They don’t have (a defensive midfielder).”
Brisbane had 68 inside 50’s against the Dogs, 14 more than their opponents, but couldn’t get over the line in the one-point thriller.
Marcus Bontempelli and Jack Macrae were two of the Dogs’ best players on Saturday night and set up great scoring opportunities, while a week earlier Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca ran riot when the Demons beat the Lions.
Chris Fagan’s midfield is stacked with talent, primarily consisting of Jarryd Lyons, Lachie Neale, Dayne Zorko, along with Hugh McCluggage and Mitch Robinson on the wing.
“They’ve got a star-studded line up… and that’s great until it’s not and this finals series it has bitten them,” King said.
The North Melbourne great has two solutions for the club, but says time is ticking and changes need to come this off-season.
“In my opinion, having been beaten the same way twice at the pointy end of the year and having your season run aground, you’re only going to have a certain number of opportunities with this group when they finish top four, you need to change the mindset of one of your star midfielders,” he said.
“They need to become like Trent Cotchin, who was a ball winner before coming (a defensive mid).”
If one of their midfielders aren’t willing to bite the bullet, King’s other option calls for a culture change.
“Or you need to have a Melbourne football club type conversation in the off season and adhere to the team first philosophy,” he said.
“My initial early thoughts are the quicker they have that conversation, the closer they are to the premiership.
“Until they have a conversation where they are open and honest and brutal, nothing will change.”
2021 was the second time in three years the Lions were knocked out in straight sets after finishing in the top four, their only finals win under Fagan coming from a 2020 qualifying final win over Richmond.