- Jarrod Berry gets emotional as he pays tribute to his late mother Jedda
- The Lions star’s mother died of breast cancer in 2013
- The Lions booked their place in the AFL finals with a 10-point win over the Cats
Lions midfielder Jarrod Berry held back tears as he remembered his late mother after his side’s thrilling comeback to advance to the season decider with a 10-point win over Geelong.
A week after coming back from 44 points down to beat GWS, the Lions erased a 25-point third-quarter deficit in their 14.11 (95) to 12.13 (85) preliminary final win at the MCG on Saturday.
Chris Fagan’s side will face Sydney on September 28 in the first grand final between two non-Victorian clubs since 2006.
It will be Brisbane’s second consecutive appearance in the grand final, following a heartbreaking four-point loss to Collingwood last year.
Berry, 26, had a disappointing showing last time out and said it “meant a lot to him” to get another chance at a major final.
“He’s motivated me every day,” Berry said. Seven sports.
‘In those moments during pre-season and even sometimes before big games, you have flashbacks; before the game against the Pies, you have flashbacks of that moment.
‘You feel responsible, but now we’re here again and I feel very blessed to have this opportunity again.
Jarrod Berry held back tears as he remembered his late mother during an emotional post-match interview
The Brisbane Lions booked their place in the AFL finals with a 10-point win over the Cats
“Football isn’t everything, but it’s a very important part of my life and these guys are a very important part of my life as well and I just want to reward them with my effort, so that’s what they’ll see from me on the day of the grand final.”
Berry’s mother, Jedda, passed away from breast cancer in 2013, and Berry became emotional reflecting on the lesson she taught her.
“You’re faced with bumps and bruises every time, but that one for me was clearly the one that stood out the most,” he said.
“It’s part of my footballing journey and it is what it is, but I’m a bigger person than just football.”
Holding back tears, she added: ‘My mother taught me about resilience and I am a resilient person.
‘We’re back.’
The Lions, who finished fifth in the standings, could become only the second team to win the championship outside the top four under the current finals system, introduced in 2000.
Lions coach Chris Fagan said he was very proud of his team after the win.
It would complete a remarkable turnaround after trainer Chris Fagan thought his hopes of winning the flag were all but over in May.
“I’m very proud of our group, not only for the resilience they showed tonight, but for the resilience they’ve shown all year,” Fagan said.
‘We were in a pretty tough situation halfway through the season, with four wins, six losses and one draw.
‘The way those guys performed and stood firm in their positions, they got a reward tonight.
‘If you had told me halfway through that we were going to play a grand final, I probably would have told you you were crazy.
“But here we are and we have a chance. It was a fantastic victory against a tremendous football club.”