AFL grand final 2024: Brisbane Lions players say injured teammate should receive premiership medal

Oscar McInerney will have a special place reserved in Brisbane folklore, but will his grand final heartbreak change tradition? The AFL boss has weighed in. HAVE YOUR SAY

The AFL will remain steadfast that only players who triumph on grand final day are handed premiership medals despite AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon’s commitment to review the AFL tradition.

Dillon has a long list of issues to assess in the post-season including whether to scrap the sub in favour of five players on the bench, allowing umpires to use stats for Brownlow voting and whether WA-based sides are handed an extra home game.

Both Chris Fagan and John Longmire said in the lead-in to the grand final they supported the squad-based mentality of awarding a medal to every player on the list.

But the Herald Sun understands the league is a strong supporter of retaining tradition, as tough as that is on the likes of injured Brisbane ruckman Oscar McInerney.

McInerney will have a special place reserved in Brisbane folklore after urging his teammates to be more selfless on the eve of the finals, twice dislocating his shoulder in the preliminary final, then showing his wild excitement at his teammates’ success from the sidelines.

The beloved ruck played in Brisbane’s first 25 games of the season before a shoulder injury meant he missed the 26th game, with Darcy Fort coming in for the grand final, his third game of the season.

Unsurprisingly, Fort said every member of the Lions squad deserved a premiership medal.

“I think everyone should. It takes a squad,” he said.

“The VFL guys have done a really good job in getting the AFL guys prepared and making sure they are ready to go. I think it does take a full squad to win a premiership.”

Midfielder Hugh McCluggage agreed.

“We have had so many guys play games throughout the year and you don’t win if you don’t get into this position,” he said.

“We have had guys who played in those games who didn’t play on Saturday who well and truly deserve a medal.

“I would love to see it but, at the same time, we have celebrated those guys. They are not lost to us, but it would be great to see them get a medal, that is for sure.”

The lack of a premierships medal might be keenly felt in coming years by McInerney.

But just as Callum Mills would not have received a Ron Barassi Medal as the Sydney captain if the Swans won given he did not play on the day, the league has a hard-line stance.

Dillon did suggest last week on SEN Radio that he would consider the prospect, but it has little to no chance of resulting in policy change.

“It is certainly something I would be more than happy to look at. It has been discussed at various levels but never seriously and something we will look at (in the) post (season),” he said.

Oscar McInerney was a fan favourite at Brunswick Street Oval. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Dillon said WA-based chief executives Don Pyke (West Coast) and Simon Garlick (Fremantle) had presented to the AFL Commission on Brownlow Medal day.

One proposal is for them to secure an extra home game to off-set the travel load.

“It is something that is being considered,” Dillon said.

“We had Don Pyke and Simon Garlick in at the commission meeting putting forward a proposition which is being considered but that will play out with the venues and stakeholders and other clubs over the next few weeks as we put together the 2025 fixture

“Even making sure when we fixture a WA team, making sure they get out that night and maybe less games in Tasmania, understanding the toll travel does have on those teams.. That will be a key factor in the composition of the fixture.”

The league is also open to looking at whether the finals are included in goal and mark of the year eligibility rather than only the home-and-away season.

““I think everything is solvable. I have had people say you could award it on Brownlow Medal night and not have the grand final. To me that would seem counter (intuitive). It is something we can look at, especially now there is a genuine prize on offer with (the $50,000) cash and the frequent Flyer Points from Virgin which are highly sought-after,” Dillon said.

Originally published as AFL grand final 2024: Brisbane Lions players say injured teammate should receive premiership medal