- Jarrod Berry cries during tribute to late mother Jedda
- Lions star’s mother died of breast cancer in 2013
- Lions book place in AFL final with 10-point win over Cats
Lions midfielder Jarrod Berry has fought back tears as he remembers his late mother after his team’s thrilling comeback saw them advance to the deciding game of the season with a shock 10-point win over Geelong.
A week after coming from 44 points down to beat GWS, the Lions overcame a 25-point third-quarter deficit to secure a provisional final victory 14.11 (95) to 12.13 (85) at the MCG on Saturday.
Chris Fagan’s team will play Sydney on September 28 in the first grand final featuring two non-Victorian clubs since 2006.
It is the second consecutive time that Brisbane has reached the Grand Final, following a heartbreaking four-point defeat to Collingwood last year.
Berry, 26, underperformed last time out and said it “meant everything to him” to have another shot at the grand final.
“It has driven me every day,” Berry said Seven Sports.
‘Those moments during the preparation for the season and sometimes even before big games you get flashbacks – before the Pies (game) you get flashbacks of that moment.
‘You feel responsible, but now that we’re here again, I’m so blessed to have this opportunity again.
Jarrod Berry fought back tears as he remembered his late mother during an emotional post-match interview
The Brisbane Lions secured a place in the AFL finals with a 10-point win over the Cats
“Football isn’t everything, but it’s a huge part of my life. And these guys are a huge part of my life. I just want to repay them with my commitment. That’s what you’ll see from me on the day of the big final.”
Berry’s mother Jedda died of breast cancer in 2013. Berry became emotional as he recalled the lesson she taught him.
“You’re going to have bumps and bruises at any given time, but this one really stood out to me,” he said.
“It’s part of my football journey and it is what it is, but I’m a bigger person than just football.”
Holding back tears, he added: “My mother taught me what resilience is and I am a resilient person.
“We’re back.”
The Lions, who finished fifth in the table, could become the second team to win the championship title outside the top four under the current finals format introduced in 2000.
Lions coach Chris Fagan said he was very proud of his team after the win
It would mark a remarkable turnaround after coach Chris Fagan thought their hopes of a place in the flag had faded 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 dire situation halfway through the season with four wins, six losses and a draw.
‘The way those guys handled it and persevered, they were rewarded tonight.
‘If you had told me halfway through that we would be playing in the grand final, I probably would have thought you were crazy.
“But here we are and we have a chance. It was a fantastic win against a great football club.”