Beloved Brisbane Lions premiership hero Oscar McInerney has called time on his nine-year AFL career, telling teammates he has played his last game, according to Nine's Tom Morris.
Oscar McInerney decided to retire, telling teammates he’s played his last AFL game.
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) October 5, 2025
165 matches and the fairytale finish. ‘Big O’ leaves the @brisbanelions as one of the most popular & respected men in footy. 👏@FootyonNine @9NewsMelb @1116sen @traderadio https://t.co/dDyIM5TOVk
After being recruited by the Lions from the Casey Demons in the VFL, McInerney went on to enjoy a 165-game career, his last coming in this year's Grand Final.
The 31-year-old signs off as a premiership player after being the hard luck story of Brisbane's 2024's premiership team, following his dislocated shoulder in the preliminary final a week before that year's Grand Final.
McInerney had to overcome that heartbreak and nagging back issues in 2025 to earn his way back into the side, after playing just 11 games during the home-and-away season, with coach Chris Fagan opting with Darcy Fort as his side's full-time ruckman.
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But following his return in the semi-final, McInerney played an important ruck-forward role en route to the club's back-to-back triumph, chopping out in the ruck while helping bring the ball to ground inside 50.
Before that, McInerney was a crucial part of helping build the two Brisbane premiership teams that came to be, playing 135 games from 2019-2024.
Fortunately for the Lions, they are well-prepared for life after the 'Big O,' with free agent ruckman Sam Draper officially signing with the side on Friday.