Brisbane Faces Grand Final Challenge After Losing Key Player to Injury

Oscar McInerney, ruckman for the Brisbane Lions, is effectively ruled out of the AFL Grand Final after dislocating his shoulder twice during their preliminary final against Geelong at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Saturday. The injury, described as “carnage” by Fox Sports, also saw Geelong’s Max Holmes subbed out due to a hamstring issue.

Initially, McInerney was injured when attempting to tackle Geelong midfielder Tom Atkins, resulting in visible pain and requiring his exit before the first quarter break. He was subsequently strapped up by team doctors and returned to play during the second quarter. However, the injury recurred during the third term, forcing his substitution out of the game.

Brisbane’s coach Chris Fagan expressed his regret over the loss of their “No. 1 ruckman” for the Grand Final. “I reckon when you’ve double-dislocated your shoulder in a preliminary final, you’re not going to be playing in the Grand Final, which is a real pity, because he’s just been so enormous to us,” Fagan said. He indicated that the likely replacements would be emergency Darcy Fort or novice Henry Smith, to face Sydney‘s Brodie Grundy.

Despite this setback, Fagan remains hopeful, stating, “It’ll be a downer for us that he can’t play in the Grand Final, but I know the boys will probably find a way to use that as a dedication to him as well.” He highlighted McInerney’s courage, noting, “That’s him – he’s full of heart, and he’s a bloke that just gives himself to the team.”

Meanwhile, Joe Daniher stepped up as the Lions’ primary ruckman in McInerney’s absence, aiding in a come-from-behind win against Greater Western Sydney in the previous week.

As for Geelong, Holmes underwent a lengthy hamstring injury assessment during the third quarter and was briefly sidelined before returning. However, he was eventually subbed out, signaling the severity of his injury.

Brisbane’s strategy moving forward includes traveling to Melbourne earlier than previous years to acclimatize and prepare better for the Grand Final. “Arriving earlier would give Brisbane two training sessions instead of one in Melbourne,” Fagan noted.

The injuries have cast a shadow over both teams as they prepare for the final showdown. Despite the challenges, Fagan expressed pride in his team’s resilience throughout the season, remarking, “I’m feeling very proud of our group… if you had said to me at the halfway mark of the season we’re going to be playing in a grand final at the end of the year, I probably would’ve said, ‘you’re crazy’, but here we are.”