by Kahuna » Mon Oct 06, 2025 9:40 am
This popped up in my Facebook feed, sound like two great blokes--
Coach Chris Fagan’s open letter to Oscar McInerney
Dear Oscar...
Oct 5, 2025, 6:57 pm
Dear Oscar,
Last Thursday when I asked you whether you were intending to retire, in typical Oscar style you evaded giving me an answer.
I wanted to know because the Club Champion Awards were on that night and if you were going to retire, I wanted to be able to say a few words about you and the positive influence you have had on our club in the nine seasons that you have played for us.
I should have known what you were up to – evading giving me an answer because you didn’t want me to make a fuss about you on the big night.
Just wanting to slip out the door quietly, riding off into the sunset with no fanfare or accolades.
You sent me a text at 10.01am the next day asking if I had some time to catch up with you.
“Hi Fages – just seeing if you’ve got any spare time in your calendar today …. I can be anywhere, Springfield if you’re out there, Bulimba, wherever. If you’ve got a spare minute, I would be really grateful. No pressure though – if you’re busy it can slide through to the keeper, and I can just give you a call down the track. Thank you.”
I texted you back saying I could catch you at my place in Bulimba at 1.30pm.
I was pretty sure you were coming to tell me that your time was up. You didn’t let me down.
I re-read the text that you sent me that morning and it very much sums you up.
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 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.
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.
You did so carrying a back injury that would stop most players from taking the field.
Your sheer will power to contribute to the victory and help your teammates carried you through.
It was so good for all of us to see the joy on your face as you ran up on stage to receive your premiership medallion after the final siren had sounded.
A career complete with a premiership victory.
We will miss you “Big O” – everything you did at our club was for the benefit of the team.
You played 165 games and in every one of them you gave your best possible effort.
Over a nine-year career you’ve played against and beaten some of the great ruckmen in the AFL.
You worked hard on the track and did everything you could to maximise your talent.
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.
Fages
