The AFL has confirmed a last-minute change for the grand final, approving requests for Sydney and Brisbane’s injured stars to sit on the bench.
Swans captain Callum Mills was on Wednesday ruled out with his hamstring injury while Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney dislocated his shoulder in last week’s preliminary final win.
But rather than sit in the stands the duo will be heavily involved from the boundary in their respective teams’ bid to win the flag.
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For Mills, any chance he can get to contribute will be welcome after enduring a shocking first season as Sydney’s standalone captain.
After suffering a shoulder injury in an embarrassing Mad Monday mishap last year, a calf complaint set him back just when he was in line to make his first appearance of 2024.
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He then strained his hamstring in the qualifying final in what was just his seventh game of the season.
Despite training well on Wednesday, Mills was ruled out of returning for the grand final.
Stand-in skipper Dane Rampe described being captain as Sydney attempt to win their first premiership since 2012 as “bittersweet”.
“First of all, shattered for a mate,” Rampe said on Friday.
“One of my great mates and leaders of our club; we’ve been a lot through a lot together with.
“Me and him had a cry after the news on Wednesday afternoon, but as soon as that was done and the way Millsy would have wanted, it was business as usual.”
Should the Swans win, Rampe — not Mills — will receive the inaugural Ron Barassi Medal, awarded to the premiership skipper on grand final day.
But the door is well and truly open for Rampe to honour Mills on the dais in the same vein as the Western Bulldogs and injured captain Bob Murphy in 2016.
Sydney midfielder James Rowbottom said Mills had been all-in despite being injured.
“His leadership and everything he does off the field hasn’t wavered,” Rowbottom said.
“He’s had a pretty rough year but his demeanour and the way he carries himself amongst the group and how he’s still able to lead us is second to none.”
While Sydney are relatively used to playing without Mills this year, Brisbane admit Darcy Fort taking over in the ruck from McInerney will require the team to adapt.
“Obviously I’m super-disappointed for ‘O’, you guys all know how much he means to the footy club and how well regarded he is throughout the boys,” Cam Rayner said.
“But for Forty to come in and get the opportunity, I feel like every year you talk about people saying that ‘you never know what could happen, there could be an injury’ — well this is the perfect example,
“He’s been preparing himself for this the whole time so I’m pretty confident he’s ready to go.”
Asked if the change of ruckman will change their midfield dynamic, Hugh McCluggage said “oh, it definitely changes” … but only so much.
“Each game we go in knowing that you don’t actually get a whole lot of clean hits or easy exits from stoppage. A lot of the time it’s a 50-50 ball in there,” McCluggage said.
“So we’re just gonna make sure Forty fights his hardest and creates a contest, which we know he will.
“So I don’t think too much will change. It’s gonna be a little bit different, but we’re confident he can do what he needs to do.”
– with AAP
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