Fuming Lions hit out as off-season holiday mess escalates

Brisbane Lions footy boss Danny Daly fronted the media on Easter Monday to blast rumours concerning an off-season trip players took to the United States.

The trip, which Daly confirmed took place across October and November last year, reportedly led to players and partners splitting after WhatsApp messages made their way back to Australia.

The situation hit the headlines after Brisbane slumped to an 0-3 season start on Thursday night, falling to Collingwood by 20 points at the Gabba.

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Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd is one of many people who believe Brisbane's tumultuous off-season trip could be a factor in the club's winless start. Weighing in on Nine's The Sunday Footy Show, he explained the importance of a unified playing group in the pursuit of AFL premiership glory.

Daly delivered a statement as he addressed the press on Monday, before fielding questions about the ugly noise.

"As a football club we were initially reluctant to speak on this because as a club we don't really comment on the publicity of our players' personal lives and relationships," Daly said.

"But now I feel the need to speak ... following poor, insensitive and factually incorrect media reporting."

Daly said "no crisis meetings" were held over the weekend.

He said he had a phone call with co-captains Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews, who told him there were "no issues in the playing group".

"I will again strongly say today there is no divide in our playing group," Daly said.

"Some of you people here today are around our footy club enough, so I'd ask you the question, 'Have you seen anything that would suggest there is a divide amongst our playing group?'.

"The trip's also not the reason why we are 0-3 at the minute."

Daly was quizzed on the phone call he had with Neale and Andrews.

"I spoke to both leaders for about one minute, just asking if there was any truth in it," he said.

"They categorically told me there wasn't. I trust my playing group, I will always trust our playing group.

"What players' relationships are like off field, again, that's their personal business and we don't step into that matter."

Lloyd, an AFL premiership player with the Bombers in 2000, admitted on The Sunday Footy Show that flags are "so hard to win" and said "this is the last thing you need in an off-season".

"They can say that — that it's not affecting on-field performance — but I'm not sure they truly know when you're dealing with players and their emotions," Lloyd said.

"Home life is just critical, so often when players are going off the rails or not going well you ask questions and you dig deep enough. Often things at home aren't going well and then you spiral out of control on the field or you're not performing on the field. It certainly wouldn't be helping their form."

Brisbane lost to Carlton by one point, Fremantle by 23 points and Collingwood by 20 points.

Chris Fagan's men still start as strong favourites against North Melbourne in Adelaide on Friday night, when they meet the Kangaroos in Gather Round.