'This is football': Kane Cornes backs Brisbane's approach to Oscar McInerney prelim-final heroics
Updated . First published
Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes has criticised AFLPA boss Paul Marsh's "campaign" against clubs that expose players to injury risk factors during high-stakes games.
The Lions' Oscar McInerney was dominating in the ruck in the opening term of Brisbane's 10-point preliminary-final win over Geelong on Saturday when he dislocated his left shoulder in a tackle.
McInerney went down to the turf and immediately signalled for the trainer's assistance.
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Oscar McInerney was transported to hospital after injuring his shoulder in Brisbane's preliminary-final win over Geelong. Nine
In graphic scenes, McInerney was seen dry-heaving from the pain as he exited the MCG in the hands of Lions' medical staff.
Heading straight down to the rooms, the 30-year-old had his shoulder maneuvered back into place before returning to the game in the second quarter.
Unbelievably, McInerney took his place back in the middle — if a little gingerly and with his shoulder heavily strapped.
But after half time, he re-injured the same shoulder.
McInerney was subsequently subbed off before being transported to hospital for further assessment.
"What we saw with Oscar McInerney is going to go down in finals folklore as one of the most courageous things I've ever seen," Cornes told Nine's AFL Sunday Footy Show.
Oscar McInerney appeared in agony after a injuring his shoulder. Getty
However, the big man will now miss this coming Saturday's decider against Sydney because of the injury.
In regards to McInerney coming back on after the first dislocation, Cornes argued that the move was "exactly" what should have happened despite Marsh's stance.
"To strap [his shoulder] up, to get back out there, to help his team win through to a grand final is exactly what he should have done," he said.
"But when Paul Marsh is on a campaign and a rampage all about player safety. He's going to have to approach the club and question the club as to why they put their player back on and risk them missing a grand final.
"This is football. Sometimes when you're injured, you go back on the ground and you play. That's exactly what McInerney did.
Cornes believed the Lions should not receive probing over the incident as they prepare for a grand final.
"There should be no questions asked of Brisbane in terms of how they managed that but Paul is going to have to ring around, like he has, and speak to the media to get to the bottom of how Brisbane have put their player back on with the risk that they've taken," he said.
"It just shouldn't be that way."
A similar situation played out earlier in the season when Hawks skipper James Sicily returned to the field after dislocating his shoulder in his side's win over the Bulldogs.
Speaking post-match, Lions coach Chris Fagan was quick rule McInerney's out of selection for the grand final.
Lions coach Chris Fagan. via Getty Images
"I reckon when you've double-dislocated your shoulder in a preliminary final, you're not going to be playing in the grand final," he told media.
"Knowing Oscar, he would have hoped he would get through the game, that he'd be right to get through the game next week. That was what was probably going through his head."
The Lions could likely bring in emergency ruckman Darcy Fort, who has not featured at the AFL level since round seven.
Brisbane will enter its second grand final in as many years with hopes of righting the wrongs of the side's 2023 loss to Collingwood by just three points.
