‘They’re not happy with the way they’re playing’: Veterans drop themselves

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Jack Gunston and Daniel Rich have dropped themselves from Brisbane’s side to face Sydney, telling coach Chris Fagan they don’t deserve to be selected.

Recruit Gunston and defender Rich won’t face the Swans at the Gabba on Friday or play in the Lions’ VFL team, Fagan revealed on Thursday.

‘Managed’: Jack Gunston.Credit: AFL Photos

Instead they’ll be placed in a training block indefinitely after the coach said they approached him on Monday.

“Both those guys aren’t going to play this week and they’re not going to play for a little while,” Fagan said.

“They’re not happy with the way they’re playing at the moment; they believe their form doesn’t warrant selection.

“Goes to show you what good and honest men they are.”

Gunston, 31, has averaged a goal per game in 11 outings since arriving from Hawthorn but went goalless and tallied just 11 disposals across his last two starts.

Defender Rich, 33, has battled niggles and was subbed off in the loss to Hawthorn last week.

“There’s obviously the option to go back to the reserves, but at their age the best thing we can do for them to get back to playing their best footy is to give them a training block,” Fagan said.

“For the next few weeks, that’s what they’ll be doing.

“Building their bodies up, building their fitness up and hopefully in a few weeks time they’re feeling really good.

“What happens is they end up not training and it doesn’t help them.

“So we want to do a circuit breaker with them … I’m not sure how long they’ll be out for or when they’ll be ready to come back.

“So when you see the team tonight they’ll be out ‘managed’, which is one of the great words that’s just appeared in recent times.”

Brisbane are 8-4 and clinging to fourth on percentage after consecutive losses, with all four defeats coming on the road.

AAP

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