Chris Fagan, Brisbane Lions’ coach, made a remarkable gesture by giving his AFL premiership winners medal to Oscar McInerney, who missed the 2024 grand final due to injury. Yahoo Sport Australia exclusively revealed Fagan’s decision to honor McInerney, the ruckman who played a crucial role throughout the season and in the preliminary final win, despite being sidelined with a dislocated shoulder for the grand final.
Fagan, awarded the Jock McHale medal as the grand final-winning coach, felt it was only right for McInerney to have a premiership medal as recognition for his vital contributions. Rather than making the gesture public during the grand final ceremony, Fagan chose to present McInerney with the medal at the team’s final meeting of the season
McInerney, reportedly overjoyed, was grateful to his coach. A caller to Triple M, speaking anonymously, shared that Fagan addressed the team, saying there was a “23rd man on the field,” acknowledging McInerney’s integral role.
This comes as Fagan, along with Swans coach John Longmire, had previously called on the AFL to change its policy of awarding medals only to the 22 players on the field, advocating for all squad members to receive medals for their contributions throughout the season.