Geelong star defender Tom Stewart is the latest Grand Final heartbreak story, with his concussion following a dangerous tackle by Hawthorn forward Mabior Chol ruling him out of the final weekend of September.
He may be joined by Lions midfielder Jarrod Berry, with the 27-year-old's availability for the decider in doubt following a second left shoulder dislocation within a month.
These two aren't the only players to face the devastation of a missed premiership opportunity in recent years, however.
Since 2013, there have been six notable instances of key players being ruled out of a Grand Final due to an injury suffered in the penultimate week of the Finals Series.
Here's every premiership heartbreak story in the last 13 AFL seasons.
5Oscar McInerney (2024)
'The Big O' suffered a brutal shoulder injury in the first quarter of Brisbane's preliminary final thriller against Geelong last year, but the ruckman bravely played on until the third quarter, where it dislocated again, even while being heavily strapped.
It meant that McInerney's career year had to be cut one game short, but his absence sparked motivation for the Lions in their domination of the Swans on Grand Final day.
The injury was obviously too serious to allow him to return the following week, with back-up ruck Darcy Fort winning a premiership medal despite featuring in just two games in 2024 prior to the big dance in his place.
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