Oscar McInerney Biography

After taking a month off to deal with a back complaint and to freshen up mentally, Oscar McInerney must now prove his fitness in the VFL to be considered for senior selection.

"We just want to see how his body pulls up after a game. Last time he played his body couldn't get through the game for various reasons," Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said.

"If he gets through that, then he's back in line for proper consideration for the team."

Oscar McInerney has rejected the notion he is more motivated than his teammates in 2025 after missing out on their premiership last season.

"I'm no different to all 800 players in the competition, everyone from the day you walk out in pre-season right through the year you just keep driving for the ultimate prize," he said.

"I've always looked at my career, from when I came here in 2016, that I was so fortunate to be involved in an AFL club.

"What the Brisbane Lions have given me over the last nine years, to even be part of that, to see what the club's worked towards, I think it'd be quite selfish to be down in the dumps."

After taking the place of the injured Oscar McInerney in Brisbane's 2024 Grand Final side., Darcy Fort is now a premiership player.

"He was incredible. I haven't seen the Norm Smith voting but I would have given them to him. It was bloody incredible," McInerney said in the rooms of Fort.

"I always knew he was going to do something special. He is a competitor. He is a beast. He is our most professional. We had a lot of faith in him and just knew he would get the job done."

Fort had run straight to McInerney as soon as the final siren sounded to share the moment the Lions secured their first premiership since 2003.

"He is the most humble, selfless guy there is. He had the biggest smile on his face. I'm sad he doesn't have a medal. He deserves it more than anyone," Fort said of McInerney.

Oscar McInerney will sit on the bench during the Grand Final tomorrow as his teammates will use his inspirational preliminary final performance as motivation.

McInerney dislocated his shoulder twice in last weekend's preliminary final win over Geelong and has been replaced by Darcy Fort for the decider.

"We asked for 'O' to sit on the bench tomorrow and be a bit of a voice to the players, which he will be," Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said.

"He knew when he hurt his shoulder the first time last week that his season was probably over. He bravely went back on and gave us another 45 or 50 minutes knowing that.

"That was quite inspirational for his teammates. He put the team before himself and that 45 minutes really helped us. That's the type of guy he is.

"We'll go out there and try and play for him tomorrow."

Brisbane will be without Oscar McInerney for the 2024 Grand Final after the ruckman severely dislocated his shoulder in the Lions' preliminary final win against the Cats.

"Obviously the shoulder dislocated, came back in pretty quickly, but unfortunately he got another knock, and it popped out again. So, I think that's a signal that there's a bit of laxity in the ligaments around the shoulder and that'll put him out for next week," Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said.

Oscar McInerney signs a three-year contract extension to remain a Lion until at least the end of 2024.

"To be given this opportunity to keep the dream alive and play with a bunch of blokes you love and footy club you love, the adrenaline hasn't stopped flowing," he said.

Following Stefan Martin's trade to the Bulldogs, Oscar McInerney is ready to resume the number one ruck spot at the Lions.

"There's nothing better for an aspiring ruckman coming into the system to have a player like Stef to follow with his professionalism, gym, nutrition, what he did on the field with his ruck craft, running and being such a great mentor and someone to look up to," McInerney said.

"My philosophy is to not be comfortable with where I'm at, get into work every day and chase the best. If I'm doing the work, that's my process. You're never comfortable."

Oscar McInerney will be assessed during the week for concussion after suffering a head knock against Melbourne at the Gabba.

Shortly before half-time, McInerney went low to contest a disputed ball and his head made solid contact with the hip region of Demon playmaker Christian Salem.

McInerney, who was left groggy and bloodied, left the field in the hands of trainers.

Oscar McInerney has emerged as a match-turner in Brisbane's fast start to the 2019 AFL season.

"He just seems to step up in those times when we've needed it," Lions recruiting manager Stephen Conole said.

"He's spending a few more minutes in the ruck now and when forward he's just such a dangerous match-up with his size and his reach. He's a really strong aerobic runner so he gets up and back and turns his defender around."

Oscar McInerney signs a contract extension with Brisbane to remain at the club until the end of 2021.

Oscar McInerney makes his AFL debut for Brisbane with 7 disposals (3 kicks and 4 handballs), a mark, 3 tackles and 9 hitouts in a 34-point loss to GWS.

Brisbane select Oscar McInerney with pick No.37 in the 2016 Rookie Draft.