Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has penned a beautiful open letter to Oscar McInerney, heaping praise on the selfless nature of the retiring champion and incredible sacrifices he made for the team. McInerney called time on his AFL career on Sunday – just days after helping the Lions win back-to-back premierships courtesy of their 47-point win over Geelong in the grand final.
It was a fitting end to a 165-game career for McInerney, who battled injuries across the 2025 season, having missed last year’s premiership triumph with a shoulder injury. The 31-year-old played every game in 2024 but picked up the injury in the prelim and sadly missed the grand final.
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan (L) has hailed Oscar McInerney (bottom right) in a classy open letter to the retiring champion. Image: Getty
Injuries hampered the veteran ruckman’s season in 2025, but his hard work was rewarded with a call-up for the semi-final win over Gold Coast, and McInerney kept his spot for the remainder of the finals series. And after tasting premiership glory in the thumping win over Geelong, McInerney decided it was the perfect way to end his nine-season career that started with Brisbane in 2017.
Fagan said he texted McInerney before Brisbane’s end-of-season awards night because he had an inkling the 31-year-old was going to retire. But he said McInerney chose not to respond because he didn’t want to take the focus off Brisbane’s achievements and make the awards night about about him.
Chris Fagan hails Oscar McInerney in classy open letter
As Fagan revealed in his classy open letter, the retiring ruckman sent him a follow-up text the next day asking if they could catch up – but only when and where it suited the coach. Fagan said it was the perfect illustration of why McInerney was such a beloved figure at the club.
“I re-read the text that you sent me that morning and it very much sums you up,” Fagan wrote in his letter to McInerney. “Didn’t want to intrude on my time, prepared to meet me at a time and place that suited me and even offering to ‘let it go through to the keeper’ if I was too busy. One of the biggest decisions you’ve ever made in your life, and you made it all about me!
“This is so typical of you Oscar, always putting others before yourself and your needs. Humble, low maintenance and thoughtful to the end. Well, I decided to write this letter to you and put it on the club website so that the general public can understand the great team man that you are.”
Brisbane Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney (R) holds the AFL premiership trophy aloft after their grand final win over Geelong. Pic: Getty
RELATED:
He continued: “For me I will never forget the sacrifice that you made for the team in the 2024 Preliminary Final against Geelong. You dislocated your shoulder early in that match but returned to the field with it strapped up and gave us another 40 minutes of football before it popped out again, ending any chance that you had of playing in the Grand Final the following week if we were fortunate enough to beat the Cats, which we did.
“That 40 minutes meant we didn’t have to use our sub too early in the game and save Joe Daniher from having to spend an extended period in the ruck. You were in considerable pain and discomfort, yet you pushed on for as long as you could.
“The next week on Grand Final day you sat on the interchange bench, constantly offering encouragement and advice to your teammates as they came on and off the field. When the siren sounded and we won the game your happiness for your teammates was unbridled and incredibly genuine.
“No sadness because you missed out just pure unadulterated joy and excitement for your mates. It’s an image and moment I will never forget. We are all so happy for you that you got to play in a winning Grand Final against the Cats this year.”
Fagan revealed that McInerney played through a back injury in the grand final win over Geelong that ‘would stop most players from taking the field’. And Brisbane’s coach said the ruckman should be immensely proud of the way he carried himself across a long and successful career. “You can leave the game with no regrets, loved and admired by your teammates and respected by your opponents. Well done big fella – we will miss you,” Fagan signed off by writing.