Lions to dedicate flag to ‘favourite son’
The Lions will dedicate a potential AFL premiership to injured ruckman Oscar McInerney, who is set to suffer the heartbreak of missing Brisbane’s grand final date with the Sydney Swans at the MCG on Saturday.
McInerney dislocated his shoulder twice in Brisbane’s epic 10-point weekend preliminary final win over Geelong, with Lions coach Chris Fagan having already ruled the 30-year-old giant out of the decider.
Darcy Fort is favoured to replace McInerney in Brisbane’s grand final line-up, with Henry Smith the other option.
Lions star Jarrod Berry had no doubt that either Fort or Smith would be up to the task but was shattered for his good mate McInerney.
“We got drafted together (in 2017), me and big Oscar, and he’s one of those guys that epitomises brotherhood and the culture that we’ve built here at the club,” Berry said.
“There’ll be certainly a lot of emotion and feeling around him if he doesn’t play, but we know we wouldn’t be in this position without him and the impact that he’s had on the boys.
“He’s one of the favourite sons up here in Brisbane, and we’ll certainly be playing for him on the weekend.
“He’s so selfless, He always put others’ needs before his own. He’s one of those guys that make football enjoyable and makes this club what it is and makes it a fun place to be.”
Experienced Lions defender Ryan Lester hoped McInerney could travel with the team to Melbourne on Wednesday to ensure that, bar from playing on Saturday, he could be a “part of everything” in grand final week.
“He’s a big presence, not only from being a big man physically, but also he’s a great character around the club,” Lester said.
“He’s all about the team first and always has been.
“No doubt it’ll be hurting him inside but the sort of guy you see around the club this week will be bubbly and saying ‘don’t worry about me, Darcy Fort or Henry Smith can do the job’.
“We’ll be trying to win for the whole club but win for Oscar as well.”
Berry said Fort or Smith – who have spent most of the season in Brisbane’s VFL team – would be as “ready as anyone” for the task of beating the Swans, who won this year’s minor premiership.
“You build your whole football career up to play in games like this,” Berry said.
“We know exactly what we’re going to get from those two guys. It’s just going to be important that they just create a contest all day.
“That’s what we expect from them.”
The Lions beat the Swans by two points in a July thriller at the Gabba in the only meeting between the teams during the regular season.
Lester expected a similarly close contest this weekend.
“While we beat them, it was an arm-wrestle type of game, and I think that’s what it’s going to like again on Saturday, and I’m looking forward to it,” Lester said.
