“It’s just one of those things you have got to deal with. The club has been awesome,the boys have been awesome,and I have got the full support of everyone,” McStay said.

“It has been a challenging year and I just try to switch off from all the media and try not to look at it and just focus on my own game and try to play my role for the team and do what I have to do.”

He said Fagan’s uncomplicated message and approach was instrumental in maintaining a positive outlook.

“He’s been fantastic;he has obviously been a GM[general manager] of footy,so he understands the ins and outs of football. I can’t thank him enough for everything he has done for me,and we keep going,” McStay said.

McStay was recruited from Victoria with pick 25 in the 2013 national draft and has played 160 games and seven finals with the Lions. His only preliminary final was also against Geelong in 2020.

He was concussed early in last year’s qualifying final,and although he was missed at the time,the way his absence was dealt with provided the Lions with lessons they have put into play in this series.

McStay said the experience helped whenkey forward Joe Daniher withdrew from the semi-final to be at the birth of his first child,with Fagan saying post-match that he didn’t bother to call a meeting when he heard the news as there was no need to make too big a deal out of it with Tom Fullarton stepping in.

“‘One man out,next man in’ is something we really focused on over the pre-season,” McStay said. “We’re really grateful to have that sort of depth that guys can come in and play their role.”

If he is,as everyone expects,finishing up at the Lions at season’s end,he wants to go out on a high. Two more wins will do the trick.

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