Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has revealed his side’s replacement for the injured Oscar McInerney this Saturday.
The 204cm ruck badly dislocated his shoulder in last Saturday’s epic win over Geelong at the MCG, and was sadly ruled out of the big dance earlier on Tuesday morning.
Speaking to Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Tuesday night, Fagan confirmed that veteran second ruck Darcy Fort would play his first game since Round 7, and his third for 2024.
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“Darcy Fort’s been our number two ruckman all year – young Henry Smith’s not too far behind him, but a little bit less experienced… he’ll be a logical replacement for Oscar,” Fagan said.
“He’s (McInerney) a big loss, but equally, Darcy Fort is a guy who really deserves an opportunity – he’s been so understanding of playing the role as second fiddle.”
Meanwhile, Sydney coach John Longmire says Callum Mills will need to survive a training session at “absolute 100 per cent intensity” on Wednesday to push his case for the AFL grand final.
Mills remains in the frame to return from a hamstring injury he suffered at training after the Swans’ preliminary final win, as Longmire said the club had learnt from previous attempts to get star players to the starting line for big finals.
The coach said key forward Logan McDonald looked fit to play after he was subbed out of the preliminary final win over Port Adelaide with a sprained ankle.
Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley told Fox Footy’s On the Couch on Monday that the fateful decision to pick an underdone Sam Reid for the 2022 grand final would play on Longmire’s mind when it came to a decision on his captain.
“Are you taking any soft tissue risk at all? That’s the question (Longmire) will be asking himself, prosecuting the medicos and prosecuting Callum Mills,” Buckley said.
“Because I’m pretty sure (the Swans) had the same conversations with Sam Reid. If I’m John Longmire, I’ve been scarred by what happened in 2022 because they took in a player who quite clearly wasn’t ready and might’ve re-nicked (his adductor injury) five minutes into the game.”
Longmire told reporters on Tuesday that the lesson from Reid’s selection would be a factor in the Swans’ decision but added that the Swans had past successes getting players through to the grand final that might have been overlooked.
“You always learn, and one of those things is to train at 100 per cent … get through training and train flat out,” he said.
“(Sam Reid) is one of the stories. In 2012, we played Teddy Richards and he didn’t really walk all week – he had a crook ankle and we thought, ‘How about playing on Lance Franklin in the grand final?’ and he got through OK. Those are the stories that don’t get talked about.”
Longmire said Brisbane would be having the same discussions internally over sore players as he said Mills would push hard on Wednesday to mount his case.
“Callum will train flat out (on Wednesday) – that’s the plan – he will turn up tomorrow and train at absolute 100 per cent intensity and we’ll see how we go,” Longmire said.
“Obviously, (I’ve) got a good relationship with Cal. (I) speak to him about a number of things all the time – his role for this week, whether he plays or not, and making sure he gives himself a chance tomorrow.
“He trained (Monday) and trained really well. That was a good sign … we’ll see how he goes tomorrow. The aim is to go out there and train 100 per cent.”
Meanwhile the Lions on Tuesday offically ruled ruckman Oscar McInerney out of the Grand Final.
McInerney injured his shoulder twice in the preliminary final win over Geelong, and is expected to be replaced by Darcy Fort.
Bruce Reville is available after overcoming a minor hamstring strain.
Source Agencies
