By Peter Ryan, Jake Niall and Marc McGowan
Livewire forward Charlie Cameron says Brisbane have proven the footy world wrong by climbing from 13th on the ladder to the grand final, while a journeyman from South Barwon looms as the Lions’ wildcard in Saturday’s decider against Sydney.
Ex-Cat Darcy Fort is the likeliest replacement for Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney, who coach Chris Fagan all but ruled out after his double shoulder dislocation in Saturday’s 10-point preliminary final victory over Geelong at the MCG.
The Swans have their own injury calls to make, with forward Logan McDonald (ankle) skipping Sunday’s open training session as captain Callum Mills (hamstring) faces his own race against time.
Cameron, who was involved in a crucial contest with two minutes remaining in the preliminary final that helped teammate Callum Ah Chee put the Lions in front, said his side had taken pleasure in silencing those who wrote them off when they were 13th after 14 rounds, having won just two of their first seven matches.
The Lions had a nightmare start to the year. Popular club stalwart Nicole Duncan, who had worked for the Lions for 30 years, died after a short battle with leukemia in January, leaving everyone in shock.
They lost crucial defender Keidean Coleman to an ACL injury in round 1, before Tom Doedee, Lincoln McCarthy and Darcy Gardiner suffered the same fate.
Coach Chris Fagan had to attend mediation hearings at the Human Rights Commission over the Hawthorn racism saga, and controversy erupted over a post-season trip despite it being dealt with before the pre-season started.
But the Lions resurrected their season to finish fifth, a round-23 loss to Collingwood denying them the double chance.
“A lot of people had written us off. We’ll just keep backing ourselves in and enjoying the process,” said Cameron, who will play in his third grand final.
“To kick a goal [Ah Chee] from that contest was unreal. [There are] moments in games to stand up and try to win the contest. It comes down to little things.”
Charlie Cameron celebrates after the final siren.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
The Lions are the new comeback kings, coming from 44 points down to beat the Giants in the semi-final and 25 down against Geelong.
They have won 13 of their past 15 matches, with eight of the winning margins 20 points or less, to make their second grand final in a row.
Cam Rayner, who sealed the grand-final berth, said the team were finishing matches off better this season, having learnt from last year’s heartbreak against the Magpies.
“[We] have been able to score in different ways this year and play in different ways. We probably adapted at half-time today the way Geelong were defending as well,” Rayner said.
McInerney bravely played on after dislocating his left shoulder in gruesome scenes in the opening term, but he took no further part after it came out again in the second half.
“He’s full of heart, and he’s a bloke who just gives himself to the team,” Fagan said. “That’s why he’s admired so much, so 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 for the game as well.
“Obviously, the shoulder dislocated, came back in pretty quickly, but unfortunately, he got another knock, and it popped out again. So, I think that’s a signal that there’s a bit of laxity in the ligaments around the shoulder and that’ll put him out for next week.”
Joe Daniher played as a makeshift ruckman in McInerney’s absence, but Fagan said Fort or four-gamer Henry Smith were set to come in to duel with the Swans’ No.1 big man, Brodie Grundy.
Smith has made four senior appearances to Fort’s two this year – all of them late in the year, alongside McInerney – but has played more as a forward-ruck in the VFL, whereas Fort is a specialist ruckman and was an emergency against the Cats.
Fort averaged 15.5 disposals, six clearances and 32 hitouts at second-tier level in 2024, while Smith’s per-game numbers were 15.9 disposals, 3.6 clearances and 20 hitouts.
Smith had 53 hitouts in Brisbane’s VFL preliminary final loss last week to Werribee – which Fort did not play in – and also kicked 17 goals in 14 matches, so that could appeal to Fagan when making his choice.
Swans coach John Longmire sounded optimistic about McDonald’s availability after the Swans beat Port Adelaide on Friday night, but typically gave little away, while Mills trained on Friday after suffering a hamstring strain at training in the week after the club’s qualifying final win over the Giants.
Sydney’s decision to pick Sam Reid despite him dealing with an adductor issue backfired spectacularly in their disastrous grand final defeat to Geelong two years ago.
Asked if the Reid experience would make the Swans more cautious this time around, Longmire said only: “Let’s see how the week progresses. I’m half an hour after just walking off after a prelim.”
‘You’re gonna hear me roar’: Katy Perry rehearsal keeps Lions off the ’G
Rehearsals for international pop star Katy Perry’s pre-grand final performance will deny the Brisbane Lions the chance to train on the MCG more than once before Saturday’s big game.
The Lions are planning to head down to Melbourne earlier in the week to prepare for their clash with Sydney, and ideally wanted an extra session at the ’G before their captain’s run on Friday.
Katy Perry is returning to the MCG for the AFL grand final. Credit: Joe Armao
However, an MCC spokeswoman confirmed grand final entertainers always rehearsed on the Thursday before the big day, and Brisbane confirmed they would only have one MCG run, which is normal for grand final teams in other years.
The Lions had hoped they might get an extra session in after their senior coach Chris Fagan put together a presentation earlier in the year on how the league could be more accommodating of interstate clubs travelling to the MCG for the decider.
The Lions celebrate a crucial Cam Rayner goal in the final term of the preliminary final.Credit: via Getty Images
Suggestions included extra sessions at the MCG as well as support in ticketing and accommodation for players’ families, coaching staff and officials.
This year’s grand final will be the first between two non-Victorian clubs since West Coast played Sydney at the MCG in 2006, although both the Lions and Sydney have connections to foundation clubs Fitzroy and South Melbourne.
Both the Brisbane Lions and Sydney have played three times at the MCG this season for two wins apiece. They have never played against each other at the MCG, although Fitzroy played the Sydney Swans there in the 1986 first semi-final.
On the plus side for the Lions, Perry is likely to perform her most famous song Roar which should go down well with Lions fans.
Dangerfield escapes ban for tackle
In match review news out of Saturday’s preliminary final, Lions key forward Eric Hipwood and Cats skipper Patrick Dangerfield were both handed fines, with Hipwood free to play in the decider and Dangerfield available for Geelong’s opening match of 2025.
The tackle in question: Dangerfield on McCluggage.Credit: AFL Photos | Getty Images
Hipwood was handed a $3750 fine (with an early plea) after being reported for rough conduct against Jack Henry, while Dangerfield was handed $1250 and $2500 fines for incidents of striking and rough conduct against Josh Dunkley and Hugh McCluggage respectively.
Dangerfield’s contentious tackle of McCluggage was graded as careless conduct, low impact, and high contact.
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