Chris Fagan's incredible AFL grand final gesture for the injured Oscar McInerney comes to light
Fagan gave his premiership winners medal to McInerney.
Yahoo Sport Australia can exclusively reveal in an incredibly selfless act Brisbane coach Chris Fagan decided to give away his premiership winners medal to preliminary final hero Oscar McInerney. After the ruckman's heroics helped Brisbane book a place in the 2024 AFL grand final, Fagan felt it was only right for McInerney to receive a medal after missing out on the club's incredible grand final triumph through injury.
For winning the grand final, Fagan was awarded both the Jock McHale medal - which is given to the grand final winning coach - and a premiership medal. And while both medals meant a great deal to Fagan - especially after the club came so close to winning a flag the season prior - the Lions coach felt it was only right to give his premiership medal to McInerney.
The ruckman was an integral part of Brisbane's campaign all season, but couldn't line up in the grand final after dislocating his shoulder twice in the preliminary-final win over Geelong. But the ruckman showed his absolute class after Brisbane's 120-60 victory at the MCG, celebrating each and every one of his teammates as they received their medals despite the fact he would have been quietly shattered that he wasn't getting one. But in the end, he received a medal after all.
A Brisbane Lions spokesperson told Yahoo Sport Australia on Friday that Fagan felt it was the right thing to do given the ruckman's crucial role in the Lions achieving their ultimate goal. But not wanting to do it on the public stage at the grand final ceremony, Fagan chose to award it to the ruckman at the team's final meeting.
McInerney was reportedly ecstatic upon receiving the medal and very thankful to his coach. It comes after a Triple M caller, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, revealed he overheard Fagan say he gave his premiership medal away to McInerney. "So Fagan has two medals and in the final meeting before the playing group splits up for the off-season, he (Fagan) got the boys together and said 'So I have a 23rd medal and as you boys know there was a 23rd man on that field with you'," the caller told Triple M.
"And he and everyone felt a medal had to go to Oscar and there you have it the feel-good story of the year. Oscar was so selfless and you could see the joy on his face after the boys won the grand final. And now he has a grand final medal himself."
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The revelation comes as in the lead-up to the grand final both Fagan and Swans coach John Longmire called for the AFL to change its stance over handing out medals to only the 22 players who take the field. "I think the whole squad should get medals," Fagan said in the pre-game press conference.
"Teams win matches but squads win premierships and all the boys that don't play contribute just as much, so for me I think that makes logical sense. Every player on your list should receive a medal if you are lucky enough to win one." Longmire agreed and simply said: "I'm with Fages". But it appears McInerney got his medal after all.
