Leaked Whiteboard Sparks Controversy Before Lions-Bombers Clash

A private whiteboard containing the Brisbane Lions' internal analysis of Essendon players was photographed without authorization and shared publicly prior to Saturday's match, prompting responses from players and coaches on both sides.

Content of the Leaked Notes

The whiteboard, used for internal team preparation, listed perceived strengths and weaknesses of several Essendon players. According to reports, the notes included character-based assessments:

• Zach Merrett described as "selfish"
• Ben McKay noted as having "low confidence"
• Kyle Langford labeled "selfish"
• Andrew McGrath's weakness listed as "kicking cough up"
• Sam Durham called a "hot head"

The notes also referenced former Lions defender Jaxon Prior, listing his only strength as "Bronte"—his partner's name.

Circumstances of the Leak

The leak occurred when an individual, present at a Brisbane Lions community event with their children, photographed the whiteboard and shared it publicly on a social media group for Essendon supporters.

Official Responses

Chris Fagan (Brisbane Lions Coach)

"The practice of listing opponents' strengths and weaknesses has been part of the club's preparation for nine years—a method I adopted from former rugby coach Eddie Jones."

Coach Chris Fagan described the leak as "disappointing" and stated that the information was private and intended for internal use only. He emphasized that no degrading or sinister comments were intended. Fagan noted that he spoke with Jaxon Prior after the match and that Prior had no issues with the content.

Regarding the incident, Fagan stated it may cause the club to reconsider allowing public access to its facility, though he affirmed the club will continue to engage with the community.

Josh Dunkley (Brisbane Lions Player)

Player Josh Dunkley addressed the leak in an interview on Fox Footy. He explained that younger players commonly watch footage and write opponents' weaknesses on a whiteboard as part of their preparation.

"I think the term 'weaknesses' could be replaced with 'growths'—we'll refine this practice moving forward."

Dunkley expressed disappointment about the leak but noted that footy players are always under scrutiny. He said the team would learn from the experience and might reposition the whiteboard in the future. Dunkley also added that he would not be concerned if similar notes about him were made public.

Brad Scott (Essendon Coach)

Essendon coach Brad Scott commented that the incident was a matter for Brisbane to manage, not Essendon. He stated that he would not want such information to come out of his own team's building. Scott suggested that opposition analysis is common across AFL clubs and encouraged his players to respond to the remarks competitively.

Harris Andrews (Brisbane Lions Defender)

Brisbane defender Harris Andrews expressed anger about the leak.

Outcome of the Match

The incident did not affect the result of the match, with Brisbane securing a 64-point victory over Essendon.