They’d won just four of seven home games last season before surging to an 8-4 Gabba record and continuing their impressive away form to defend their title.
But the Bulldogs’ delight at knocking off the Lions was clear to see last month and the club is under the microscope more than ever in search of a three-peat.
“Back when we dominated for a few years here, teams didn’t take us all that seriously and we were just on the rise,” Fagan said.
“Now when teams come here, teams know we’re a decent footy club and set themselves for the task and we’ve got to be more on the job.”
That task will be complicated by a dearth in defensive options, Fagan again forced to be agile after injuries to Noah Answerth (concussion) and Darcy Gardiner (shoulder) in their win over St Kilda.
They were already without suspended captain and key defender Harris Andrews, while Hugh McCluggage (calf) won’t return.
Fagan deployed young forward Ty Gallop in the backline last week in the latest example of the side’s ingenuity that has helped them to back-to-back flags.
He indicated Gallop would play a similar role this week, with Keidean Coleman also set to drop into the back six after playing mostly as a forward against the Saints.
Darragh Joyce and James Tunstill have been called in to replace the injured pair.
“It seems to be backline-centric, all of our injuries,” Fagan chuckled on Wednesday.
“We have to be innovative and play together well as a team.
“But our midfield’s still strong, forward line’s still strong. We’re still putting a good team out on the field and are very optimistic of our chances.”
The Magpies won by 52 points at the Gabba last year and pipped the Lions in the 2023 grand final, but the Lions have won their past two MCG clashes, including last year’s preliminary final.
“It might get a mention,” Fagan said of last year’s Easter humbling.
“There’s a strong rivalry building.
“When you play a team in a grand final … that starts a rivalry. It was there to some degree before that, but it’s even stronger these days, so it’ll be on tomorrow night.”
Fagan chuckled again when asked if Magpies star Nick Daicos would receive a tag.
“I won my bet … every time we play Collingwood someone asks that question, can’t work out why,” he smiled.
“We’ve talked a bit about him this week. There’s plans, I’m not sure which ones we’ll go with just yet.
“We also think we’ve got a pretty good midfield.”
AAP
