Teammates and AFL fans are showering Jarrod Berry with love after the Brisbane Lions star was omitted from the grand final on Thursday night. In better news for the Lions, Lachie Neale has been named to play just three weeks after suffering what appeared to be a season-ending calf injury.
But Berry is the hard-luck story of the grand final for the Lions after dislocating his shoulder last week in the prelim. Berry suffered the same injury on August 15 against Fremantle, with the Lions unwilling to risk a recurrence in the grand final.
Speaking after the prelim, Berry said he was confident he could simply strap it up and play in the decider, and wouldn’t even bother getting scans. But with Neale also under a huge cloud, the Lions couldn’t afford to pick them both.
Lachie Neale (second from left) is in, but Jarrod Berry (second from right) has been ruled out of the AFL grand final. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Co-captain Harris Andrew revealed on Thursday night that it was actually Berry who made the selfless decision not to play. Speaking earlier on Thursday, Lions legend Jonathan Brown said it was too big a risk for Brisbane to play both Neale and Berry.
“I don’t think you can take the risk,” Brown said. “They’ve been rolling the dice the last few weeks with Jarrod Berry with understanding the likelihood that his shoulder would probably go again, but they had Bruce Reville there as the sub. So a midfielder like-for-like type. I think they’ll do the same with Lachie Neale.”
Jarrod Berry and Lachie Neale after the 2024 grand final. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Neale’s return is virtually a miracle after club doctors told him he was a five per cent chance of playing again this season. The injury was initially listed as being season-ending with a four-to-six-week time-frame. The Lions held a closed training session at Melbourne’s Princes Park on Thursday, and Neale got through unscathed to prove his fitness. Berry was unsighted in a huge indication he wasn’t going to be picked.
Brisbane Lions teammates get around Jarrod Berry
Lions teammates are now vowing to win Saturday’s decider for Berry, just like they did for Oscar McInerney last year. “I spoke to Bez a few times. We’re pretty close,” star midfielder Josh Dunkley said on Friday. “What he’s been able to do this week has been incredible.
“I get a bit emotional thinking about it, because there’d be a lot of guys out there that would put their hand up to play in his position, and we always talk about putting the team first, and he’s done that. Like he’s walked into a meeting yesterday before training and said ‘I’m not right’ and to do that takes incredible courage and awareness to put the team first.
“So I feel for him that I hope we get out there and get the job done for him, because like last year, Oscar McInerney missing out from a shoulder, it’s a similar storyline. So fingers crossed, we can get out there and do it for him.”
Will Ashcroft also hailed his teammate’s sacrifice. “Fages (Chris Fagan) just pulled us all in after training and just relayed the information,” Ashcroft said. “Bez is obviously one of our leaders. He’s a bit of a heartbeat for our footy club, really. He’s been at the club for a long time.
“So for him to make that decision’s obviously very selfless and tough for him individually, and probably all the boys a little bit. Yeah, we obviously want to play for him and we appreciate that.”
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The Cats also named Jed Bews, Mitchell Knevitt and Ollie Henry, while Brisbane listed Sam Day, Darragh Joyce and Jimmy Tunstill as emergencies. Fans took to social media to celebrate Neale’s inclusion, but many were sending messages of support to Berry.
One person wrote: “Feel for Jarrod Berry. I love his game. Love his attitude and loved his interview after the prelim last season. He’s heart and soul material for BRISBANE. They’ll miss him.”
Another wrote: “Jarrod Berry I want to hug you.” While a third added: “Every Lion across Australia sends their love and admiration to Bezza. All for one and one for all.”
with AAP