Grand Final Heartbreak Looms for Brisbane Lions Star Jarrod Berry
In a cruel twist of fate, Brisbane Lions midfielder Jarrod Berry faces the agonizing prospect of missing out on a coveted spot in the Grand Final team, potentially marking a heartbreaking end to his otherwise stellar season. As the Lions gear up for the championship decider, Berry’s fitness hangs in the balance, casting a shadow over his participation.
The 27-year-old’s Grand Final hopes suffered a significant blow when he dislocated his left shoulder for the second time in just five weeks during the preliminary final victory over Collingwood. Berry was subbed out of the game, leaving his chances of lining up in the Grand Final hanging precariously.
The injury woes began in Round 23 against Fremantle, where Berry initially dislocated the same shoulder. Despite the setback, he demonstrated remarkable resilience, returning for the qualifying final against Geelong. However, the recurrence of the injury in the preliminary final has thrown his Grand Final aspirations into jeopardy.
Following the preliminary final win, Berry expressed a glimmer of hope, recalling a similar situation earlier in the season. “It has (happened before) … they said before the Hawthorn game that if it was a Grand Final, I’d play so we’ll see what happens,” he told Channel 7.
However, recent developments suggest that Berry’s chances of being named in the Grand Final team are dwindling. During the Lions’ training session on Thursday, Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary reported that there was “no sign of Jarrod Berry” throughout the entire 80-minute session at Princes Park.
While the Lions have yet to officially rule Berry out of contention, the absence from training raises serious concerns about his fitness and availability. The decision to potentially sideline a player of Berry’s caliber in the Grand Final would undoubtedly be a difficult one for the coaching staff.
