Darcy Fort could become the most unlikely of premiership heroes for Brisbane as they embargo on the final stage of their redemption.
Fort, 31, will play only his third game of the season when he suits up for the Lions against Sydney in this year’s grand final at the MCG.
The towering 204cm ruckman has been called in after a shoulder injury to Brisbane No.1 ruckman Oscar McInerney in the preliminary final left coach Chris Fagan needing a replacement to tackle Brodie Grundy.
Fort’s journey to the big stage is not linear to most footballers.
Overlooked in his draft year of 2012, Fort went on to play for Werribee and Footscray in the VFL but would struggle for a regular game.
He then moved to Central Districts in the SANFL where he played as a ruckman and a defender as well as worked as a civil engineer from 2016 to 2018.
Heading into the 2018 draft, Fort shot into contention and was selected by Geelong with pick No.65 as a 25-year-old prospect.
Fort would spend the next three years on the Cats’ list stuck behind Rhys Stanley in the pecking order, before once again trying his luck interstate with a move to Brisbane.
It’s at the Lions where he’s played 27 of his 35 AFL games, but after suiting up on 18 occasions in his first year he’s struggled to break in since as the Lions went with the one ruckman in McInerney.
Come the first bounce on Saturday afternoon, all eyes will be on Fort as he plays a pivotal part in the Lions’ pursuit of their first flag in 21 years.
“Darcy Fort’s been our number two ruckman all year — young Henry Smith is not too far behind him, but a little bit less experienced — he’s (Fort) ready made and fit to come in, so he’ll be a logical replacement for Oscar,” Fagan told Fox Sports earlier in the week.
“He’s (McInerney) a big loss, but equally, Darcy Fort is a guy who really deserves an opportunity. He’s been so understanding of playing the role as second fiddle.”
Sydney coach John Longmire said Grundy and assistant coach Dean Cox, former West Coast ruckman, had done some work on Fort ahead of the decider.
“We know tomorrow the first bounce, when they’re standing at each other storylines go out the window and it’s time to get the job done,” he said. “That’s really what it gets down to.”
The Lions have faith in Fort, who last played AFL in round seven and has 35 games across five seasons at Geelong and the Lions.
“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,” teammate Cam Rayner said on Friday.
“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.”
Cox, who was West Coast’s No.1 ruck in their 2006 premiership, is having nothing of the narrative that McInerney’s absence automatically means a big advantage for the Swans.
“A lot of people certainly look at that, but what Darcy has done for a number of years on an AFL list, I’ve looked at him really heavily, certainly this week,” Cox said.
“Brodie is aware of the mindset he needs to go in with and hopefully it all goes to plan.”
Grundy has enjoyed a resurgence this season since joining Sydney from Melbourne and has relished working with Cox.
“He’s been a pleasure to work with … his attention to detail, how much he wants to learn and how curious he is with that,” Cox said of Grundy.
“That’s really appealing from a coach’s perspective.
“He’s changed the way we play and hopefully he can have a really big impact come Saturday.”
McInerney and injured Sydney captain Callum Mills will both sit on their team’s benches during the game.
With AAP
