AFL 2024: Oscar McInerney says replacement will be Brisbane’s ‘secret weapon’

Brisbane ruckman Oscar McInerney has spoken for the first time since the injury that ended his hopes of a premiership medal.

Injured Brisbane ruckman Oscar McInerney says he is at peace with “going down swinging” in the Lions’ preliminary final triumph over Geelong.

Speaking for the first time since his devastating shoulder setback, McInerney backed his replacement Darcy Fort to be Brisbane’s “secret weapon” against Sydney as he prepared to look on from the stands.

The 30-year-old ruckman travelled with his teammates to Melbourne on Wednesday with his left arm in a sling after he was ruled out of the Grand Final almost immediately following the painful injury.

He represented Brisbane at a kick-to-kick with grand final entertainment headline act Katy Perry at the MCG on Thursday before he told NewsWire that he was “really content” despite being sidelined in the final week of the season.

“I was ecstatic to be honest (after the preliminary final). We do all this hard work to get into the grand final, especially after last year, getting that taste, we just wanted to be back there,” McInerney said.

Oscar McInerney says he’s ‘really content’ with how his season ended after suffering a dislocated shoulder in Brisbane’s preliminary final win over Geelong. Picture Lachie Millard

“To see the emotion in the rooms after it was incredible. Everyone thinks it’s this emotional period for myself, but to go down knowing that I gave it my best and went down swinging, I’m really content with that.

“I get to be really part of a group that’s striving to be able to do some special things over the next 48 to 72 hours.”

McInerney said he had “tried to survive” after coming back on in the second quarter following the initial dislocation he suffered as he praised Joe Daniher for carrying the load in the second half.

“The boys were incredible, they got around me when I went out there and just tried to survive for as long as I could … unfortunately, it wasn’t for long enough, but what Joey did in the game, Dunks (Josh Dunkley) did in the game, our talls, everyone really was absolutely incredible, and hopefully we can keep riding that momentum we’ve gathered from the GWS game and onwards,” he said.

McInerney says replacement Darcy Fort (left) can be the Lions’ ‘secret weapon’ against Sydney in Saturday’s grand final. Picture: Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images

McInerney backed Fort to hold his own in a key battle against Sydney’s Brodie Grundy after only playing two senior games this season – his most recent in round 7.

“He’s going to be our surprise weapon, this week. He’s going to be incredible. I can’t wait to see what all our boys do, but Darcy is the ultimate professional,” McInerney said.

Teammate Jarrod Berry said on Monday the Lions would be playing for McInerney, “one of our favourite sons”, when they ran out onto the MCG without him.

“We got drafted together (in 2017), me and big Oscar, and he’s one of those guys that epitomises brotherhood and the culture that we’ve built here at the club,” Berry said.

“He’s one of the favourite sons up here in Brisbane, and we’ll certainly be playing for him on the weekend.

“He’s so selfless, He always put others’ needs before his own. He’s one of those guys that make football enjoyable and makes this club what it is and makes it a fun place to be.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: Oscar McInerney says replacement will be Brisbane’s ‘secret weapon’