AFL: Battles with Nic Naitanui and Max Gawn has Lions ruckman McInerney primed for elimination final

Two weeks of learning from the top two ruckmen in the AFL has taught Lions big man Oscar McInerney plenty ahead of a sudden-death clash.

Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney soars high against the Eagles. Picture: Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Lions big man Oscar McInerney hopes the lessons he has learnt from successive assignments against the AFL’s best two ruckmen will lead to a dominant display in Brisbane’s do-or-die battle with the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

McInerney has gone head-to-head with West Coast’s Nic Naitanui and Melbourne’s Max Gawn in Brisbane’s past two matches.

Despite a brilliant performance from Naitanui at the Gabba, the Lions beat the Eagles and secured a top-four berth.

Brisbane weren’t as fortunate in last weekend’s qualifying final against the Demons, who with the help of Gawn beat Brisbane at the Adelaide Oval to earn a preliminary final spot.

In contrast, the Chris Fagan-coached Lions will now fight to save their season in this weekend’s elimination final at the Gabba against the Bulldogs.

“When you work under ‘Fages’ there’s mantra of either you win or you learn,” McInerney said.

“Obviously, we’re out there to win every week, but we need to make sure we take the learnings and we certainly did that against Melbourne,

“They’re a class outfit but they gave us plenty of learnings (on) where we can improve and what needs to be, to be able to try to beat the best.

“We’ll continue that philosophy for as long as ‘Fages’ is around, and I think that’ll carry on for many years.”

West Coast’s Nic Naitanui (left) battles with Brisbane’s Oscar McInerney. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

McInerney described his own learning experience from his recent battles with Naitanui and Gawn as “incredible”.

“Playing against Max in such a big final, he is one of the best rucks of probably the last 20 years,” McInerney said.

“The way he uses his body, the way he creates contests, and marking, and he gets around the ground, it’s been incredible learning watching the tape over the last month.

“There’s nothing better than having a crack against the best. ‘Nic Nat’ is such a powerful beast. Max is so long and strong, and (his) footy IQ is incredible.”

The Bulldogs’ rucking options on Saturday night include Lewis Young and Tim English, but former Lions strongman Stefan Martin.

The experienced Martin has not played at AFL level in about three months, mainly due to shoulder, groin and hip injuries.

“Whatever look they give us, it’s going to be an exciting challenge,” McInerney said.

“We’re just going to have to get to work as a midfield group ... look at the tape and see where the opportunities and where the threats lie because there’s going to be such an important battle there against a really classy outfit and the Dogs midfield.”

The Lions have made two changes to the 22 that started in the loss to the Demons.

Midfielder Deven Robertson, who hasn’t played since Round 19, and defender Jack Payne replace Daniel McStay (concussion) and the omitted Jaxon Prior.

Fit-again pair Callum Ah Chee and Ryan Lester have been named as emergencies alongside Connor Ballenden and Rhys Mathieson, who was used as a medical substitute last weekend when McStay was forced off.

Originally published as AFL: Battles with Nic Naitanui and Max Gawn has Lions ruckman McInerney primed for elimination final