Bullfight critics ranked in rows

Crowd the enormous plaza full;

But he’s the only one who knows —

And he’s the man who fights the bull.

Brisbane Lions defender Brandon Starcevich must feel like the living incarnation of Domingo Ortega’s bull fighter.

Starcevich is the “one” the Lions turn to each weekend to “fight the bull” — the AFL’s premier small forwards.

They can change the flow of a game in two or three kicks, so it’s huge respect from the Brisbane match committee with Starcevich in only his fourth AFL season.

With Starcevich’s breath on their shoulder and his feet at their heels this season, Tom Papley, Jordan de Goey, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Robbie Gray have found goals as elusive as common sense in the pandemic, managing just the one each.

He is the Lions’ tamer.

At the end of his career, Starcevich will have added much more to his repertoire. Noted as a contested inside midfield beast before he was drafted from East Perth colts at pick 18 in 2017, he’s also highly rated by the Lions for his field kicking — which is why they were able to release another quality kick Alex Witherden to West Coast at the end of last season.

For now, Starcevich is embracing the contest against high-calibre opponents.

“Every one (small forward) is different with their tools and traits,” Starcevich told The West Australian. “Planning each week is a real challenge.”

On Sunday at the Gabba, he’ll front up against Fremantle’s Michael Walters, who kicked two goals in their last match-up in round two of last season.

“I learnt a lot last year playing on him,” Starcevich said.

“He doesn’t need much room to do some damage, especially at forward-50 stoppages or when he gets off the chain. One or two steps and he is kicking at goal. He’s a really tough player and can do some incredible things, so I’ll have to be right on him and make him work for it.”

Starcevich is also expecting early push back from a Fremantle side coming off a 59-point derby belting and unexpectedly on the road after the two teams’ round eight and 21 fixtures were flipped because of WA’s COVID restrictions.

“There will be a fire in their belly, they will want to rectify their performance last week and we are ready for that. With their situation at the moment they will be trying to set the tone early, to set standard for their (road) trip. We will try and make it hard for them,” Starcevich said.

He’s relieved one of those small forwards, Charlie Cameron, is on his side. Cameron has mirrored the Lions’ season. After a stuttering start, he’s back near his best, underlined by four goals in the Lions belting of Port at the Gabba last round.

“You can tell around the club he is up and about. He is loving life at the moment. He is definitely a barometer for us and when he gets going it lifts the whole team,” Starcevich said.

A product of Mt Lawley Inglewood Junior Football Club and Trinity College, Starcevich said he is starting to feel at home at AFL level after 18 games last season on the heels of two difficult seasons hampered by injury.

The lock down last year forced the team to work largely in line groups, forging a unity with fellow defenders Harris Andrews, Daniel Rich, Grant Birchall, Ryan Lester and Marcus Adams.

“We formed some pretty close bonds,” he said. “It’s been pretty stable our back six to eight. Chemistry and relationships are getting stronger and we have definitely learnt how to play with each other more.”

This week’s fixture flip hasn’t presented the Lions with any issues. They found out early (on Tuesday) and have become used to quick change anyway in the COVID landscape.

The Lions had to do some swift manoeuvring when they were literally pulled from the team bus en route to the airport after their round two loss to Geelong due to a COVID outbreak in Brisbane.

Their round three clash with Collingwood at the Gabba was switched to Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. But they found a way to win against the Pies — by a solitary point — and get their season moving.

“You have to be really adaptable. We have had a hiccup at the start of the year when we got stuck in Melbourne. You just have to be ready for anything. It’s all about mindset and how you see the opportunity as more of a challenge and get the most out of it,” he said.

Starcevich said the two post-season games he played in last year — including a qualifying final win over Richmond — had given him belief.

“I took a lot of confidence playing those games and playing a couple of finals you get a taste for it and realise that you are up to the level and can play well in the big games,” he said.

“It’s a step up in intensity. It’s talked about a lot that it does go to another level, but it really does. You have to be quick with decisions.”