Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has confirmed Darcy Fort will come in to replace injured ruck Oscar McInerney for the AFL grand final.
McInerney will be the Lions’ hard-luck story this weekend after twice dislocating his shoulder during their heart-stopping preliminary final win over Geelong.
The valuable big man played all but one game this season for the Lions and has been crucial in their miracle September run into the grand final.
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But he will be on the sidelines this weekend, and it will be journeyman Fort who comes in to replace him.
“Darcy Fort’s been our number two ruckman all year — young Henry Smith is not too far behind him, but a little bit less experienced — he’s (Fort) ready made and fit to come in, so he’ll be a logical replacement for Oscar,” Fagan told Fox Sports on Tuesday night.
“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.”
McInerney called for medical assistance and came straight from the ground late in the first quarter of the preliminary final after his shoulder came out while completing a tackle.
After getting the joint back into place, the 30-year-old gritted his teeth to courageously get back out there for the start of the second quarter, but was later subbed out at half-time.
Fagan knew after the game it would be unlikely McInerney played in the grand final.
“I reckon when you’ve double-dislocated your shoulder in a preliminary final, you’re not going to be playing in the grand final, which is a real pity, because he’s just been so enormous to us,” Fagan said on Saturday night.
“It’s just such a real pity. It will give someone else an opportunity, someone like a Darcy Fort or a Henry Smith.
“We’ve got players ready to come in, but (McInerney) means so much to us, he keeps it pretty simple, ‘O’, but he’s a much loved character at our football club.”
In the Sydney camp, coach John Longmire has admitted the ghosts of 2022 hang heavy on him as he considers whether or not to play skipper Callum Mills in the decider.
By Saturday, it will be 18 days since Mills suffered the hamstring injury at training in the days after the Swans’ qualifying final win over GWS.
The injured skipper is expected to train fully on Wednesday in a bid to prove his fitness, but Longmire admitted he is conscious of not making the same mistake he did in 2022.
Two years ago, the Swans played an underdone Sam Reid and paid the price for it, with the veteran key forward barely making it through a half before being subbed out.
Longmire has previously admitted playing Reid was the wrong decision, but also pointed to their success in selecting defender Ted Richards in 2012.
Richards was handing the task of limiting a prime Lance Franklin, then in Hawthorn colours, to help launch the Swans to victory.
“You always learn,” Longmire said on Tuesday.
“In 2012, we played Teddy, and he didn’t really walk all week. He had a crook ankle, and we thought, ‘How about playing you on Lance Franklin in the grand final?’ He got through OK.
“I’ve got good relationship with Cal and I speak to him about a number of things all the time, about his role for this week, whether he plays or not, and making sure that he gives himself a chance tomorrow (Wednesday).”
Meantime, key forward Logan McDonald is set to play in the grand final.
McDonald missed the Swans’ first training session ahead of the MCG decider with the Brisbane Lions after rolling his ankle following a marking contest against in their preliminary final win.
McDonald kicked 37 goals across the home-and-away season to finish third behind Joel Amartey (43) and Will Hayward (40).
“Logan’s pretty good. He was really good today. We expect him to be able to get through training tomorrow and be right to play,” Longmire said.
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