Brisbane coach Chris Fagan says people have short memories if they reckon his reigning premiers aren't performing as well as last season.

The Lions enter Friday night's high-stakes away clash against Adelaide holding second position on the ladder with 38 premiership points - nine wins, a draw and just two losses.

Last year after round 12, the Lions were 13th with only 18 premiership points.

"Our season last year was a real struggle for most of the year and we got into the finals just and then hit great form," Fagan said ahead of meeting the third-placed Crows at Adelaide Oval.

"There is some narrative around us that maybe we're not going so well as we were last year.

"But I think people have forgotten how hard last year was and are just judging us on how we went in the grand final, which was reasonably exceptional and doesn't happen too often.

"We are happy to be where we are, we were a mile away from this at the same stage last year."

Fagan accepted underdog status against the third-placed Crows (eight wins, four losses) who are eyeing a return to the finals for the first time 2017.

"We always like to test ourselves out and they're probably the benchmark team in the comp at the moment," he said.

"There's lots to like about them.

"Obviously their ball movement is really good, they are scoring at a high rate, their team defence has been really good as well - that's hard to get both.

"And they're really good at the contest, so there's not too many weaknesses in their game."

Fagan named 19-year-old forward Ty Gallop to make his AFL debut, replacing Darcy Gardiner (knee).

And the Crows summoned triple club champion Rory Laird, who was spelled last start, at the expense of Sid Draper.