Episode 37 of the Roar Deal with Michael Whiting and Dom Fay is a must-listen! 

Vice-captain Harris Andrews (@56.20) and CEO Greg Swann (@23.10) both stopped by to chat as the season enters its final month.

Andrews made his return to playing after four weeks out with a concussion on Saturday against Geelong.

It wasn’t an easy return for Andrews, who had the task of marking the competition’s best forward at the moment, but he said he enjoyed being back out there.

“It was a pretty frustrating day…when your opponent comes off with seven goals it’s pretty hard to deal with,” Andrews said. 

“It was good to be back out there – I really enjoyed it. I was probably a little bit off the pace at the start of the game.

“He [Hawkins] got some really good service which was hard to defend against. I’m looking forward to getting back out there again this weekend.” 

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The incident that saw Andrews suffer concussion occurred in Round 14, when Giants forward Jeremy Cameron collected him high with his elbow. 

After being stretchered off the field, Andrews appeared fine and returned to the team bench midway through the match to watch on.

Following the game, Andrews’ condition deteriorated. 

“I didn’t feel too bad coming up and watching the game. When I went downstairs and got my chin stitched up I started feeling pretty good,” Andrews said. 

“That’s why the doctors gave me the clearance to go home. We were driving home and I started to get a bit tired and my eyes began to hurt.

“I got out of the car at home and started to feel a bit crook. We were straight back on the phone to the doctors who said to head to the hospital. We were only home for the best part of five minutes.”

Andrews’ time on the sidelines conceded with the Lions going on a three-match winning streak, something he said he was disappointed to miss out on.

“I was probably more filthy in the fact that I sat out three wins…it was satisfying watching the boys win but it was disappointing not to be out there,” Andrews said.

“I was a bit nervous [watching the games]. It looked really easy when you’re sitting up in the stands and watching it. I was critically analysing everything that was going on.”

In his lengthy talk with Roar Deal hosts Fay and Whiting, Andrews also discussed tomorrow’s battle with Kangaroos forward Ben Brown, Brandon Starcevich’s debut and Darcy Gardiner’s form so far this season.

As expected the first question Fay and Whiting put to Swann was regarding Springfield, the Lions’ proposed training and administration base.

“Not much has changed. We’ve got a commitment from the State Government and we are now just waiting for the Federal Government to match that,” Swann said.

“We’ve got an application in and are hopeful of hearing something at the end of this month or next month. That’s where it sits.

“There’s a process obviously to go through and we just have to wait until it’s finished.” 

Swann confirmed the Club is still hopeful of moving in before the 2020 AFLW season.

“We haven’t yet [had to push the date back]. Obviously the longer it goes the more likely it is we will have to.”

“Earlier this week we had a design competition where five architects came in to present. 

“We are whittling that down now to the winner. Hopefully, once the money comes we are in the position to hit the button and go.”

In his time on the Roar Deal, Swann also talked about the increase in crowds this season, negotiating a better fixture in 2019 and whether the Club will apply for a priority pick this year.