It took Oscar McInerney a while to make his AFL debut but it feels like the 50 game milestone has arrived in the blink of an eye. In this week’s podcast the Roar Deal boys chat to the Big O about how he has quickly become one of Chris Fagan’s most important players.

From the moment the Roar Deal podcast began, you just knew Oscar was going to deflect any comments that carried even the trace of praise in the direction of his teammates.

From clutch goals in big moments, to suddenly becoming one of the first picked each week for the Lions to his impressive record this season against the star ruckmen of the AFL, the Big O palmed the questions off with the skill he displays on the footy field each weekend.

But somehow it made the podcast all the more enjoyable because Oscar’s personality shone through - he’s humble, fiercely devoted to his teammates and the ultimate clubman.

And that doesn’t mean there weren’t some nuggets of gold in there.

From the moment he entered the side in round 8, 2018, after being selected as a rookie in the 2017 draft, he has become a permanent fixture.  

Most players don’t really know where they stand at 50 games, but Oscar has shown with his ability to work in tandem with Stef Martin and now this season to carry the number one ruck mantle that he is an integral part of Chris Fagan’s side.

Yet, he says the three main areas he focusses on each week haven’t changed since his NEAFL days and predicts they won’t for the entirety of his career.

And in typical Oscar fashion he managed to name drop the majority of his teammates in his answer.

“Whatever the game number is for me I just want to try to improve as quickly as I can,’’ he said.

“I am always continually trying to work on my ruck craft and obviously now that’s going to become more important with connections with our great midfield of Lachie, JL, Zorks and the boys that can shoot through there with Hughie and Bez.

“So Being nice and strong in centre bounces and around the ground.

“And then also trying to work on my aerial stuff, being a threat with long down the line with contested marking and if not marking it, bringing to ground for our exciting players like Linc and Charlie.

“Then working on my follow up, being a big boy on the floor so the guys can get to work.

“They are the three areas every week I evaluate and try to improve on.’’

And he also pays a lot of attention to the competition’s premier ruckmen.

So far this year he has performed admirably against West Coast’s Nic Naitanui, Demon Max Gawn and Todd Goldstein of the Kangaroos on Saturday.

 But it is the learning potential from taking on such names that brings the greatest reward.

“There are some incredible ruckmen getting around the comp at the moment,’’ he said.

“Nic’s jump and follow up and ruck craft is something to behold.

“Sometimes you are preparing to jump at him and it’s is like, wow what is happening here, and then you are trying to not cop a knee to the jaw he has so much power.

“Then completely different is big Max Gawn, his ruck craft is phenomenal and so is his connection with his mids, he also defends really well.

“Then there’s Goldie and his follow-up , leading clearances for the comp for a ruckman is exceptional.”

However, he says the best lessons he has leaned came on the training track and in game day from teammate Martin.

It was serving as the veteran’s understudy that allowed him to so seamlessly step into  Martin’s boots.

“Stef has been incredible to look up to,’’ he said.

“The way he goes about it, he is one of our most professional players and there’s his body work on game day.

“To see that up close, now when I got flung in there, it held me in good stead.’’

And now he is shouldering the majority of the ruck load, his appreciation at what Martin does for the side every week has evolved into outright admiration.

“I’m just getting used to the longer minutes, the bash and crash that ruck role usually carries,’’ he said.

“There’s definitely some challenging elements to it.

“Continually crashing into the experienced ruckmen who know the craft so well is far different from just pinch hitting for five minutes a quarter

“The real elite ruckmen work you out pretty quickly so you just have to be more consistent around the footy and stronger in the air.’’