IF CHRIS Fagan wasn't the happiest person in Australia after the Brisbane Lions' win over Fremantle on Saturday night, he'd surely have been in the Grand Final.
The Lions' coach was beaming following his team's drought-breaking win over the Dockers, lauding his players' bravery with the ball and positive attitude in a tough season.
"The attitudes haven't dropped at any stage," Fagan said. "But you know at some point in time you need to get some emotional nourishment for the group, and they were able to get that tonight.
"I'm excited for everybody that works at the club.
"We've still got a long way to go, but that's the brand we want to play."
Five talking points: Brisbane Lions v Fremantle
He has been encouraging an attacking brand of footy since taking the coaching reins in the off-season, and said Saturday night was a glimpse of what the Lions could do.
One passage of play from a Daniel Rich kick-in during the second quarter would have been particularly pleasing.
The ball never hit the ground as it transferred from one end to the other and resulted in a running Dayne Zorko goal from 50m.
WATCH: Chris Fagan's full post-match media conference
"What they got tonight was an example of what you can do if you play that way," Fagan said.
"We haven't changed my game plan from the moment I arrived. We'll just keep working away at getting better and better and better at it.
"The great part about tonight is we got some evidence that we're on the right track, and that's a positive.
"I'm pretty excited actually, for the club tonight, it's great to see."
Fagan couldn't stop listing the players he was pleased with, but highlighted small forward Lewy Taylor and running defender Sam Mayes who had stepped up their production not only against the Dockers, but across the season in general.
Fagan said while the Lions would celebrate their first win since round one – "we haven't won in a while" – they would quickly focus on the tough trip to play Port Adelaide next week.
