Darcy Fort Replaces Injured Oscar McInerney for AFL Grand Final as Swans Exclude Taylor Adams

The Brisbane Lions have made a strategic change ahead of the AFL grand final, confirming that Darcy Fort will step into the ruck position for the injured Oscar McInerney. McInerney sustained a shoulder injury during last week’s preliminary final victory over Geelong, necessitating this adjustment to the Lions’ lineup for Saturday’s clash against the Sydney Swans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Chris Fagan, the Lions’ coach, had anticipated this move earlier in the week. The 31-year-old Fort has been selected despite only having played two matches in the 2024 season, his last appearance being in round seven. Fort’s inclusion marks Brisbane’s sole change, with star midfielder Lachie Neale remaining in the team despite dealing with a persistent heel injury.

Meanwhile, the Sydney Swans have decided against including Taylor Adams in their extended squad for the grand final. Adams, who joined Sydney in a bid for a fresh start, played 19 matches during the regular season but was excluded from the list of emergencies for the season’s finale. His performance had previously led to his omission for the qualifying final against Greater Western Sydney.

Sydney Swans’ captain Callum Mills has also been ruled out due to a hamstring injury incurred during training earlier this month. Despite Mills’s assurance that he was fit to play, Swans’ coach John Longmire made the difficult decision to leave him out, prioritizing the team’s overall stability.

The Swans are set to feature Logan McDonald, who has recovered from an ankle injury sustained in the team’s previous match against Port Adelaide. This inclusion comes after McDonald’s absence in the 2022 grand final, where the Swans were defeated by Geelong.

In anticipation of this year’s grand final, Sydney will maintain consistency by entering the match unchanged from their previous victory. Dane Rampe will lead the Swans as their captain in Mills’s absence, while Aaron Francis, Peter Ladhams, and Caiden Cleary have been listed as emergencies.

The grand final is scheduled to take place on Saturday, marking a significant event in the AFL calendar where both the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans will vie for the coveted premiership title.