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Oscar McInerney Calls Time on AFL Career Days After Back-to-Back Premiership Triumph Australian Rules Football: Brisbane Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney has announced his retirement from the AFL, bringing a close to his nine-year career just days after helping the Brisbane Lions secure their second consecutive Premiership. The 31-year-old, known affectionately as 'The Big O', finishes his 165-game tenure with the club having finally achieved the ultimate personal success, redeeming the disappointment of missing the 2024 Grand Final through injury. The news, confirmed by the club on Sunday, follows the Lions’ emphatic Grand Final victory over Geelong and marks the end of a remarkable journey for McInerney, who was initially drafted as a mature-age rookie. While the decision comes swiftly in the wake of the triumph, it is understood that persistent injuries, particularly a nagging back complaint that troubled him throughout the 2025 season, played a significant role in the timing of his announcement. His farewell is seen by many in the Australian football community as a "fairytale ending" for one of the most respected and selfless figures in the game. A Career Defined by Resilience and Sacrifice Oscar McInerney’s path to becoming a Premiership ruckman was anything but conventional. Selected in the 2016 Rookie Draft, he established himself as a physical and hardworking presence, embodying the cultural transformation the Brisbane Lions underwent under coach Chris Fagan. He became a fixture in the senior side, playing over 20 games in five of his nine seasons. However, his career narrative was largely shaped by the dramatic events of the 2024 finals series. After playing every match of that season, McInerney dislocated his shoulder in the Preliminary Final victory over Geelong. Despite the severe pain, he famously returned to the field briefly to manage rotations and assist his teammates, an act of sacrifice that sealed his fate, ruling him out of the subsequent Grand Final win against Sydney.
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The footage of McInerney celebrating his teammates’ victory from the boundary line, an image of unadulterated joy despite his personal heartbreak, became an enduring symbol of the club’s team-first ethos. Lions coach Chris Fagan even attempted to gift his own Premiership medal to McInerney in the days that followed, a gesture the ruckman politely declined, stating Fagan deserved to keep it for his family. Redemption and the 'One Last Effort' The 2025 season presented McInerney with new challenges. Hindered by chronic back problems, he was limited to just 14 senior games, spending a significant portion of the year managing his fitness and playing in the reserves. His primary ruck spot was often filled by his teammate, Darcy Fort, the man who replaced him in the 2024 decider. However, demonstrating the persistence his coach often lauded, McInerney's dedication to getting his body right culminated in a successful return for the final push of the season. He was recalled for the Semi-Final against Gold Coast and maintained his position through to the Grand Final, providing critical support in the ruck duels and forward line. The opportunity to personally contribute to the 47-point Grand Final win over the Cats served as the ultimate reward. Speaking on the club's website, Brisbane General Manager of Football, Danny Daly, articulated the club's mixed emotions regarding the departure. “While we are sad to see Oscar retire, we could not be happier to see him do so as a Premiership player because it is what he thoroughly deserves,” Daly stated. “Despite missing out on playing in last year’s Premiership due to injury, he still gave 100% to the team off the field and was the happiest person to see his teammates win it.
‘Big O’ is one of the most loved and respected people to have played for the Brisbane Lions and our football club is a better place for having had him part of it. ” The Future of Brisbane's Ruck Division McInerney’s retirement has immediate implications for the Brisbane Lions’ list management strategy, although the club had already begun the process of regeneration. The decision comes amidst the club’s acquisition of Essendon’s highly-rated free agent ruckman, Sam Draper. Draper is expected to step immediately into the primary ruck role for the 2026 season, marking a transition that the outgoing veteran was keenly aware of. Chris Fagan, who has consistently championed McInerney since drafting him out of the VFL reserves, penned an open letter to the champion. The coach revealed the ruckman's humility even in choosing the time to retire, noting that McInerney initially avoided confirming the news ahead of the club’s best-and-fairest award ceremony to ensure the focus remained on the team's achievements. “This is so typical of you Oscar, always putting others before yourself and your needs. Humble, low maintenance and thoughtful to the end,” Fagan wrote, highlighting a quality that resonated with fans and teammates alike. Fagan also praised the player’s incredible pain threshold during the 2025 Grand Final, stating McInerney played through a back injury that “would stop most players from taking the field. ” Independent analyst Gerard Whateley, speaking on sports radio, suggested that McInerney's career would be remembered less for individual statistics and more for his intangible contribution to the team’s culture. “Oscar McInerney leaves the AFL not just as a Premiership player, but as a genuine club legend in the modern era,” Whateley observed.
“He was the spiritual anchor during their rise, a symbol of resilience in 2024, and the embodiment of perseverance in 2025. His decision to bow out on top, having finally secured his medal, is an admirable close to a career defined by its selflessness, even if it leaves the Lions with a significant cultural void to fill. ” The move also provides the Lions with flexibility in the upcoming Trade Period. While they have secured Draper, McInerney’s early retirement frees up salary cap space and relieves the list management pressure that would have been created by having three senior ruckmen (McInerney, Fort, and Draper) contracted for 2026. This allows the club to focus resources on other areas as they seek to cement a potential dynasty. Conclusion Oscar McInerney leaves the AFL after 165 games, having departed the Brisbane Lions days after securing the second of the club's back-to-back Grand Final titles. His retirement, driven by a desire to finish on a high point of collective success and necessitated by ongoing physical issues, closes a nine-season chapter of hard work and team loyalty. The emotional culmination of his 2025 season, following the disappointment of the previous year, secures his place as a beloved and highly respected figure in the club’s history, providing a blueprint for resilience within the sport.
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