Snubbed Lion has ‘bigger fish to fry’

Lions co-captain Harris Andrews doesn’t need All-Australian selection to prove he has had a “great season” as he focuses on what really matters to him – an AFL premiership. That campaign received some positive news on Monday when key defender Jack Payne was cleared of a serious knee injury after being subbed out at half-time during last Saturday’s elimination final win over Carlton. Payne could now be available to face GWS on Saturday alongside Andrews was overlooked for this year’s All-Australian team, with selectors instead opting for Carlton’s Jacob Weitering and West Coast’s Jeremy McGovern as the side’s key defenders.

The Brisbane star’s snubbing when the team was announced earlier this month was met with shock, with many believing he would be in the 22 considering he had more intercept marks than any other player in the competition during the regular season. And while Andrews admitted his non-selection was a “little bit” of a motivation to perform during the finals series, he said he had “bigger fish to fry”. “I’m not really too concerned about it,” Andrews said ahead of Brisbane’s do-or-die finals affair against the GWS Giants on Saturday night at Engie Stadium.

“I think I’ve had a great season. I’ve been able to play my role within our system. “The reward I’ve gotten internally is what I really value, and I feel like my teammates and the coaches are really confident in my ability each week, so it is what it is.

“At the e.