The speech that inspired the Lions to a premiership

An impromptu speech from Lions’ ruckman Oscar McInerney after their loss to Collingwood in round 23 inspired the Brisbane Lions to a five-game winning streak that secured the club’s first premiership for 21 years.

Lions coach Chris Fagan revealed that McInerney’s words became the theme for the remainder of the season after the 30-year-old told his teammates to “give themselves to the team more” in a speech teammate Jarrod Berry labelled as pivotal to their unbeaten finals run.

Injured ruckman Oscar McInerney celebrates with teammate Cam Rayner after the premiership win.Credit: AFL Photos

McInerney’s speech to the team came in the week after their loss to the Magpies cost them a top-four finish and a double chance.

“He stood up and said: ‘Boys, you have just got to give yourself to the team a bit more than you are doing.’ I had never heard him stand up and speak, and it was just one of those really powerful moments that you occasionally get at a footy club, and there he was, ‘the big O’,” Fagan said.

“We’ve been living on that theme for the past five or six weeks.”

McInerney did not play in the grand final after dislocating his shoulder twice in the club’s preliminary final win over Geelong but was as excited as anyone when the final siren went. The crowd at Brunswick Street Oval on Sunday chanted his name to get him onto the stage with his teammates.

Chris Fagan celebrates with his victorious Lions and has paid tribute to the players for turning the season around. He says the AFL should give a medal to players who contribute to the flag. Credit: AFL Photos

“What he did last week was the ultimate team act because he knew if his shoulder popped out again, there’s no chance of him playing,” Fagan said. “We were able to talk about that during the week and how selfless it was. We wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for him.”

Berry said the room had stopped and took notice when McInerney had delivered the impromptu and unexpected home truth because the ruckman had admitted even he was getting caught up in chasing statistics.

“That was a pivotal moment in our season and our journey,” Berry said. “It was pretty special. Oscar spoke about not worrying about stats, goals, marks, kicks and everything like that, [instead] give yourself to the team.

“He felt like he had gone into that trap and that is just impossible because he is one of the most selfless guys on our list. It was so powerful coming from him. I feel like all the boys just bought into that.”

Darcy Fort celebrates with the premiership cup.Credit: AFL Photos

McInerney was self-effacing when asked about his speech on Sunday. He first wondered “how did that get out?” before saying it was the product of the environment co-captains Harris Andrews and Lachie Neale had created – where any player on the list could express their view.

In the meeting room where the speech was delivered was a picture of club stalwart Nicole Duncan, placed there after she died in January following a short battle with leukemia. Duncan, who had been with the club for 30 years, was on the boundary line during the 2023 grand final as well as a key figure in the club’s three-peat premiership era.

Fagan said she was missed and would have loved to be part of the celebrations after the flag, with Brunswick Street Oval filled with the Fitzroy colours on Sunday morning.

“I wish she could be here now,” he said.

“She would love this and the family as well. [Nicole was] an incredibly hard worker for our footy club for [a] long period of time, someone I really relied on. She was big shoes to fill and a big loss to our club.

“I hope she is looking down on these scenes right at the moment.”

McInerney had focused on the opportunity his injury gave Darcy Fort, called in to take the ruck spot, to be part of the premiership side as his team-first attitude had helped the veteran through the season.

“That’s the thing that gets lost, like what a team man he is,” McInerney said.

“[It’s] heartbreak for him not playing in the Giants game, but he was the first one in the rooms pumping us up, I was so glad given what a selfless teammate he has been this year.

“It’s every kid’s dream to be part of a premiership and if you had told me eight years ago I would be at a footy club that was winning the AFL premiership, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

McInerney’s attitude left Fagan in awe and also with a message for the AFL about whether players other than the 23 who take the field on grand final day should get a premiership medal.

“I wish the AFL would give everyone a medal because that is an example of why they should,” Fagan said.

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