Veteran Brisbane Lions defender Daniel Merrett says he can understand why supporters of the embattled AFL club are staying away in droves.Just 10,195 people watched Brisbanes 79-point thumping against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday, the clubs worst-ever crowd at the Gabba.While there were mitigating factors - such as rain and the low levels of support for the Giants in Brisbane - Merrett said players were getting the message.I suppose youre not going to watch your team get beaten every week, are you? Merrett told reporters on Wednesday.All we can do is stick together as a group, train hard and build for the future.If you get caught up in that you can let it affect you.The only way to raise those crowd numbers is by playing good footy.Merrett missed the Giants match due to illness, but is expected to return to the Lions side for Sundays likely wooden spoon playoff against Essendon at Etihad Stadium.The Lions say they wont sack coach Justin Leppitsch if they lose, but a 13th straight defeat, to the suspension-ravaged Bombers would seriously ramp up the pressure on him.Merrett said Brisbane wont be handling the match any differently despite the stakes at hand.Its a way to build the game up this weekend, he said.(But) its no good putting extra emphasis on it.Well prepare the way we always prepare, well train well this week, stick together and be united.Merrett said he felt the scrutiny on Leppitsch, who is contracted to the end of 2017, was unfair.A lot of the performance comes down to the players, and as senior players, we take responsibility for that, he said.The best way the senior players can support our coach is by putting on a good performance this weekend.There is a lot of external noise, and thats all it is.Internally, were still tight, were united. Chris Bassitt Athletics Jersey . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Fake Athletics Jerseys . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/ .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. Oakland Athletics Shirts . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . Chris Bassitt Jersey . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. DALLAS -- The Stars signed defenseman Dan Hamhuis to a two-year, $7.5 million contract in the opening hours of free agency Friday, providing another veteran to a strong young group on the blue line.Dallas also re-signed forward Patrick Eaves to a one-year deal and added a pair of defensemen in Andrew Bodnarchuk and Dustin Stevenson.The 33-year-old Hamhuis has split his 12-year career in two places, first with six seasons in Nashville and then six more in Vancouver. He has 303 points (55 goals, 248 assists) in 872 career games.Hamhuis joins Dallas as it appears set to replace two veterans at the blue line.Alex Goligoski signed with Arizona after the Stars traded his rights to them before the draft. Kris Russell is a free agent after coming to Dallas at the trading deadline to boost the defense for a team that ended up as the top seed in the Western Conference. The Stars lost to St. Louis in seven games in the second round.Last summer, the Stars signed 12-year veteran defenseman Johnny Oduya away from Chicago with a deal almost identical to the one Hamhuis signed.dddddddddddd Now the pair will lead a talented young core highlighted by John Klingberg and Stephen Johns.The Stars were inconsistent last season in front of their goalie tandem of Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi, and general manager Jim Nill reiterated Friday that he intends to bring back both goaltenders.Eaves had 17 points (11 goals, six assists) in 54 games for Dallas last season, and recorded six points (three goals, three assists) in nine playoff games. The 32-year-old has 190 points (99 goals, 91 assists) in 545 career games.The 27-year-old Bodnarchuk had stints with Columbus and Colorado last season while also spending time with Lake Erie of the American Hockey League. The 26-year-old Stevenson spent last season with Stockton of the AHL. ' ' '