General News
30 September, 2025
Berry’s selfless call earns respect as Lions claim AFL flag
When the Brisbane Lions claimed the 2025 AFL Premiership on Saturday, they did so missing a piece of the "glue" that holds them together.
When the Brisbane Lions claimed the 2025 AFL Premiership on Saturday, they did so missing a piece of the "glue" that holds them together.
Jarrod Berry, who grew up in Horsham, may not have been out on the field with his team, but he still made a significant impact on Grand Final day.
It wasn't until last Thursday that Berry was officially ruled out of the biggest clash of the season, as Brisbane prepared to line up against Geelong.
He injured his shoulder when the side played Collingwood the week before the Grand Final, after being subbed out of a game the month prior when he dislocated the same body part.
Berry is booked for a reconstruction on his shoulder today.
But despite not being able to play a part on the ground at the MCG, the Lions players acknowledged Berry by having a photo of him on the board in the change rooms, and his number seven jumper hanging by the door, which they all touched as they ran past on their way out to contest the grand final.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan paid tribute to Berry when addressing the media after the match.
"We had another hero this year that didn't play in Jarrod Berry, because he selflessly admitted at training the other day, even though he thought he might be able to play, he was pretty anxious about letting the team down, so in the end made the call to not play," Fagan revealed.
"Brotherhood is a big thing in our club.
"A lot of the boys have moved away from home to come and play footy up there, so a really close group of people and Jarrod Berry is probably the driver of that, probably has been from his first or second year, he was driving that culture."
Berry also shared his thoughts on missing out on the biggest game of the year, revealing he had a "little sook" before picking himself up and dusting himself off.
"The conversation wasn’t that long," Berry said.
"It was Fages' and my call together.
"I decided to have a little sook (briefly), but as I have my whole life, I looked at what's next and what’s more important.
"That was getting around the boys and keeping the energy up."
Berry added that the side had a few players who were sore heading into the contest, and adding him into the mix with his shoulder popping out twice in four matches was too much of a risk.
"It was one of those decisions that hurts at the time, but it's all justified now," he added.
Further acknowledging Berry's efforts during the season, in which he played 24 games, Fagan later gave the injured star his own premiership medal.