Brisbane Lions forward won’t let likely move to Magpies affect finals form

A Lions star forward is focused on helping Brisbane beat Geelong, rather than be distracted by his expected switch to Collingwood.

Dan McStay and the Lions are one win away from an AFL grand final. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Lions forward Dan McStay refuses to be derailed by speculation he’s joining Collingwood as he dreams of farewelling Brisbane with an AFL premiership.

With McStay widely tipped to be moving to the Magpies next season, the Lions’ sudden-death finals campaign has perhaps held extra significance for the 27-year-old free agent, knowing that every game this month could be his last in Brisbane colours

It’s an emotional September journey which has lifted McStay to greater heights.

He played key roles in the Lions’ finals wins over Richmond and Melbourne in the respective absences of concussed ruckman Oscar McInerney, who lasted only two minutes against the Tigers, and star forward Joe Daniher, who missed the victory over the Demons to be present for the birth of his daughter.

McStay has set himself for another imposing performance at the MCG on Friday night, when the Lions meet minor premiers Geelong for the right to play in Saturday week’s grand final at the same venue.

Dan McStay has been inspirational in Brisbane’s finals campaign. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“We’re extremely confident now, as we should be,” McStay said.

“If you can play all the way through (the finals), it definitely helps you build momentum, especially after the Richmond game. We spoke about that a lot.

“We’re just really looking forward to getting out there and trying to prove everyone wrong again. That’s what we’ve done for the last couple of weeks … and to be influential in the games, absolutely it makes me feel pretty good about the performances, and I’m just hoping that I can continue that form.”

McStay denied he was affected by criticism of his form during the regular season after news broke of his expected defection to Collingwood.

“To be honest, I didn’t really read or hear much about it. I don’t really have any social media or watch those (AFL) shows, so it doesn’t really faze me,” he said.

“People are going to talk, people are going to speculate … so I’ll just let them do that and I’ll just try to focus on my footy and follow on from the last few weeks and let my footy do the talking.

“I’m playing in a prelim (final) – it being my last game for the Lions is probably the last thing on my mind.”

As much as McStay has admired the form of Geelong this year, he said the Cats were now in exactly the same situation as Brisbane in terms of a loss being season-ending.

“From now on, everyone’s got nothing to lose. It’s do or die. We’re all in the same position,” he said.

“It comes down to moments, the pressure and all these sorts of things in the game.

“We’re just going to continue to play those moments, and hopefully everything goes our way.”