Brisbane Lions AFLW Head Coach Craig Starcevich is embracing the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With AFL Health and Safety Protocols and injuries combining to impact training and fixturing in the lead-in to Round 2, Starcevich has a unique week ahead. 

Despite having a significant number of players impacted and Round 3 just around the corner, Starcevich told media yesterday that the circumstances pose an exciting challenge for the squad. 

“I like the challenge, it’s exciting there’s no doubt about that,” Starcevich said. 

“The players are also sort of thinking ‘bring it on, let’s prove a few people wrong and do things under adversity’, so there’s part of it and our group are really good at that. 

“It’s a test of our depth, but there’ll be other teams in the same boat. 

 “It’s onwards and upwards and no different to any other year in a lot of ways.” 

With players beginning to exit AFL Health and Safety Protocols and return to training from Wednesday, Starcevich said that the wellbeing and health of those players will be the Club’s top priority heading into Round 3. 

“The best interest of the players’ health will always come first, that’s a no-brainer from all our points of view. 

“We’re in constant communication with the AFL, no one’s going to put anyone out there who isn’t ready, us or the League.” 

The Head Coach also commended the way in which remaining players have held themselves despite the challenges of the past week. 

“They’ve really been terrific. There’s been a lot of things buzzing around their heads that we think they’ve coped with beautifully so far. 

“They’ve had a fair bit to deal with because they’re worried about getting sick themselves, they’re caring about their teammates, they’re trying to perform as well as they can physically on the track…but they’ve been amazing in the past week.”