Lions coach Chris Fagan backs Oscar McInerney to handle rigours of AFL finals clash

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has made no apologies for his “hard-nosed” selection call to deny former Gold Coast forward Sam Day the chance to play a semi-final against his former club and denied “emotion” was behind the decision to recall ruckman Oscar McInerney. On the eve of Saturday night’s do-or-die QClash at the Gabba, an edgy Fagan also leapt to the defence of livewire Charlie Cameron, whose form continues to be questioned. The wounded Lions will seek to remain alive in their bid for back-to-back premierships without a handful of injured regulars, including talisman Lachie Neale (torn calf). Brisbane is also backing up after a 38-point qualifying loss to Geelong, while the Suns have momentum after their one-point elimination final win over Fremantle. “They’re a very good team, and they’re playing really well,” Fagan said of the Suns. “They’ve had a great year. They would have got a lot of confidence out of their victory last week, and no doubt they’re coming up here to go after us, and when they arrive, we’re going to go after them.” Fagan showed there was no room for sentiment at the selection table, axing 33-year-old Day, who joined the Lions this year after 14 seasons with the Suns. “When you get to finals, you’re hard-nosed about those sorts of decisions. Whether it’s the right one or not, I don’t know, but hopefully it is,” he said. “It was hard to tell Sam. It was disappointing for him.” Day’s place has gone to the popular McInerney, who hasn’t played an AFL match since the Suns thrashed the Lions by 66 points on July 26. It was one of only 11 top-flight appearances McInerney made during the regular season due to fitness and body concerns. The 31-year-old giant was also the hardluck story of the Lions’ premiership success last season, missing Brisbane’s grand-final win over Sydney after dislocating his shoulder the week before in the preliminary final against Geelong. “(That) wasn’t what was behind the decision to play. It was just more being matter of fact about what we think we needed,” Fagan said. “If it gives us an emotional lift, that’s a double bonus.” When asked what made him confident McInerney’s body could handle the rigours of a finals clash, Fagan had a swift response. “Because he’s been playing for the last three weeks full games (in the VFL),” he said, before another quick reply when challenged that the VFL doesn’t have the same demands of the AFL. “Where can he play to prove that he’s fit to play in the AFL? “He’s played three full games in the last three weeks in the VFL, and he’s played really well. He had 25 possessions last week.” Fagan also denied there was a need to get Cameron’s hands on the ball early this weekend after his “quiet” performance against the Cats last week “He’s just got to play and do his role, and the ball will come his way,” the Lions mentor said. “Charlie had a quiet game last week, and he’s disappointed with it, but the week before that (against Hawthorn) he kicked two goals (and) three (behinds) and had plenty of tackles, and the week before that (against Fremantle) he kicked three goals (and) one (behind) and had plenty of tackles. “We always raise his name when he has not such a good game, but we never really talk about him much when he’s playing well, and that’s been the pattern all year. “We’re not going to go out of our way to give him the ball. He’s just got to play as part of the team, and hopefully, if he does that right, he’ll have a good game.”