‘Such a real pity’: Coach confirms Grand Final heartbreak for brave ‘much-loved’ Lion

Chris Fagan has revealed what Oscar McInerny must have been thinking as he went back onto the MCG knowing his dream was already over.

Oscar McInerney is in doubt for the Grand Final.

Brisbane has effectively ruled Oscar McInerney out of the Grand Final after the Lions ruckman twice dislocated his shoulder in the 10-point preliminary final win over Geelong.

Injury carnage swept across the MCG on Saturday evening, with Geelong speedster Max Holmes and McInerney both subbed out of the game.

Earlier in the evening, McInerney unsuccessfully tried to corral Cats midfielder Tom Atkins in a tackle before going to ground, grabbing at his left shoulder in visible pain before the first break – an act that eventually sent the ruck to hospital at the start of the final quarter. With the assistance of trainers, the 204cm ruckman went straight down into the rooms.

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McInerney was strapped up by Brisbane’s doctors and returned to the field in the second quarter.

Unfortunately, But he again grabbed at his shoulder in serious pain approaching the halfway mark of the third term, and was subbed out for Conor McKenna with 12 and a half minutes to go before three-quarter time.

Oscar McInerney of the Lions receives medical attention after injuring his shoulder. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Lions coach Chris Fagan said losing their No. 1 ruckman McInerney would be a “real pity” as he suggested he would choose to replace him “conservatively” with a specialist ruckman.

Emergency Darcy Fort, who has not played a senior game since round 7, or 206cm four-gamer Henry Smith were the two candidates named by Fagan who could take on Sydney star Brodie Grundy on Saturday.

“I reckon when you’ve double-dislocated your shoulder in a preliminary final, you’re not going to be playing in the Grand Final, which is a real pity, because he’s just been so enormous to us,” Fagan said about McInerney, who was subbed out following the second dislocation in the third term.

“It’s just such a real pity … it will give someone else an opportunity, someone like a Darcy Fort or a Henry Smith. We’ve got players ready to come in … but (McInerney) means so much to us, he keeps it pretty simple, ‘O’, but he’s a much loved character at our football club.”

Fagan said McInerney had played on through the pain of the initial injury because he believed he could push his case for the decider by getting through the game.

However, he admitted McInerny must have known his grand final hopes were all over when he went back on for the second time in the ultimate sacrifice for his team.

“That’s him – he’s full of heart, and he’s a bloke that just gives himself to the team. It’ll be a downer for us that he can’t play in the Grand Final, but I know the boys will probably find a way to use that as a dedication (to him) as well,” the coach said.

“I think (the second dislocation) is a signal that there’s a bit of laxity in the ligaments around the shoulder, and that’ll put him out for next week.”

Brisbane players and staff had boarded their bus back to Melbourne Airport less than an hour after the final siren, as Fagan said they were likely to travel south again on Wednesday – a day earlier than when they arrived ahead of last year’s grand final.

Arriving earlier would give Brisbane two training sessions in Melbourne ahead of the game, but Fagan said it was likely they would need to find a training venue somewhere else for the main Thursday session before a captain’s run at the MCG on Friday.

The coach said Lachie Neale was likely to have the same preparation as last week with only one training session prior to the Grand Final.

“I’m feeling very proud of our group, not just for the resilience that they showed tonight, but for the resilience that they’ve shown throughout the year,” Fagan said.

“We were in a pretty dicey situation at the halfway mark of the season with four wins, six losses and a draw – the way those boys have gone about it and just stuck to their guns, they got a reward tonight.

“If you had said to me at the halfway mark of the season we’re going to be playing in a grand final at the end of the year, I probably would’ve said, ‘you’re crazy’, but here we are.”

Meanwhile, Holmes was seen getting lengthy treatment on his hamstring during the third quarter, before eventually returning to the field of play after three-quarter time.

But the 22-year-old came from the field not long after, instantly walking to the back of the bench in a sign of resignation.

Originally published as ‘Such a real pity’: Coach confirms Grand Final heartbreak for brave ‘much-loved’ Lion