The Brisbane Lions had a compelling reason to avoid the traditional premiership hangover, and it’s one that fuelled their ascent to a third-straight AFL grand final.

This group vowed in the 2025 preseason that despite lifting the cup in 2024 for the first time in 21 years, they needed to reattain those heights for the men whose bodies failed them in their title charge.

Come Saturday afternoon when they clash with Geelong, two men will get that opportunity.

Humble ruckman-forward Oscar McInerney was lamented as the heartbreak story of the 2024 decider, having suffered a dislocated shoulder in the preliminary final – ironically, against the Cats.

But the 31-year-old was lauded for not dropping his head, becoming the Lions’ spiritual leader on the sidelines, while throwing his support beh

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