Brisbane's Kai Lohmann searching for form after setting ‘high bar' last season
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan admits premiership hero Kai Lohmann has lost confidence as he struggles to reach the 'high bar' he set last year.
Lohmann, who kicked four goals in Brisbane's 60-point grand final win over Sydney last season to cap off a memorable campaign, has struggled for form and consistency this year.
The 22-year-old forward has only kicked four goals in nine appearances this season in a campaign that has been affected by ankle and shoulder injuries.
Lohmann had to settle for the substitute's role last Saturday against GWS Giants, and despite being injected into the contest late in the first quarter after Jack Payne suffered a season-ending knee injury, he failed to kick a goal in the Lions' 11-point loss.
'He set a high bar last year and he has probably become a little bit too preoccupied with reaching that high bar again or going past it,' Fagan said ahead of Brisbane's battle with Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night.
'In the process he's lost a little bit of confidence because he hasn't been able to play as well as he would have liked, and yes he's had a lot of injuries.
'We'll just be patient with him. He'll get there.'
Fagan threw similar support behind Lohmann's fellow forward Charlie Cameron, who has also battled for form this season.
Cameron has kicked only 14 goals in 12 appearances this year and has often struggled to get his hands on the ball.
'He's had a little bit of an up and down year. It's probably his accuracy that's hurt him more than anything. He's had plenty of shots on goal,' Fagan said of Cameron, who has kicked 16 behinds.
'He was really good against Adelaide (two weeks ago) … we'll back him in.'
The Lions will want to improve their overall accuracy on Friday night after kicking a combined total of 21 goals and 33 behinds in back-to-back losses to the Crows and Giants.
'We're nine wins and four losses (and a draw), so we're in a reasonably healthy position, particularly compared to last year, but that (goalkicking accuracy) is the one glaring thing that has hurt us in the last couple of weeks,' Fagan said.
To avoid a third successive loss, the Lions must win on Friday at a ground where they have suffered defeat 13 consecutive times, with their most recent victory at GMHBA Stadium coming in 2003.
'We've ticked off many things over the last few years – that's all part of being competitive,' Fagan said.
'It's all part of goal setting and striving.'
Fagan confirmed that experienced defender Darcy Gardiner would replace Payne in Brisbane's backline.
'We've been trying to turn him (Gardiner) into a forward, but his career as an AFL player has been as a backman mostly,' he said.
'We're really confident he can go back there and have an impact.'
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