Why Brisbane Lions cult hero feels ‘fraudulent’
Oliver Caffrey |
Oscar McInerney has described feeling “fraudulent” when recalling how he became one of the stories of the Brisbane Lions’ remarkable 2024 premiership.
A year on, the popular ruckman has a chance to play in a winning grand final, not just be the ultimate team man from the sidelines.
After playing every game last season, McInerney was denied an opportunity to be in the Lions’ 23 for their drought-breaking flag when he dislocated his shoulder in an epic preliminary final triumph over Geelong.
Brisbane teammates used McInerney as inspiration ahead of their grand final smashing of Sydney, and he continues to motivate them in the latter stages of the premiership defence.
“We gave it our best shot and I couldn’t be prouder of what we achieved last year,” McInerney said after the Lions’ preliminary final win against Collingwood on Saturday night.
“If you had told me when I first walked into the footy club (in 2017) that I was going to see my boys win the flag, I’d take that any day of the week.
“I was a naive 21-year-old walking into a club that was struggling and rebuilding.
“One thing I’ve learned is it (grand final week) is such a special week.
“It takes a whole squad, and there’s so many unique stories.
“I feel a bit fraudulent where there’s all this noise about Oscar this.”
McInerney has this year battled a serious back issue, which he has typically played down, and has spent long periods resting or in the VFL.
But after Brisbane’s disappointing 38-point qualifying final defeat to Geelong, an in-form McInerney was brought back for the QClash semi-final against Gold Coast.
Unless there is any dramatic change at selection, McInerney will play in the grand final alongside his great mate Darcy Fort against the Cats on Saturday.
Last year, McInerney’s fortune created an opportunity for Fort to become an unlikely premiership ruckman, producing a sterling grand final day effort against Sydney goliath Brodie Grundy.
In recent seasons, the Lions have usually opted against playing two genuine ruckmen, but it has worked over the past two weeks.
“Forty has been incredible,” McInerney said.
“Just look at his last 15 weeks or so, he’s just been unbelievable.
“It’s a testament to what he was able to do in the grand final, come in, really execute a role and have a great impact.
“We’re seeing this year that he’s been a real asset for us.”
Evergreen Lions defender Ryan Lester wants to win a second premiership for McInerney, and other stalwarts such as Darcy Gardiner, who missed out last year due to injury.
“Certainly for me as an older player and close friend of those guys, I really hope that we can do the job for them,” Lester told AAP.
“Certainly (on game day against Collingwood), that’s something I was thinking about.
“When you think outside yourself, it really helps in big games like that.
“Oscar and ‘Dizz’ (Gardiner) are key parts of our club and our team, and hopefully we do the job for them.”
AAP
