Geelong goalsneak Shannon Byrnes says he feels blessed to have played with some of what he describes as the greatest AFL players ever as he comes to grips with being a dual premiership player.
Perhaps the lowest profile member of the Cats' all-conquering side, Byrnes only kept his place in the 22 that downed St Kilda in the 2009 grand final at the last minute ahead of the unlucky Mathew Stokes, as he joined David Wojcinksi as being the only Geelong players to play in both the 2007 and 2009 premiership teams while missing out on the pain of last year's grand final loss to Hawthorn when both missed selection.
Byrnes said he was slowly coming to terms with being a dual premiership player and described Saturday's epic 12-point win over St Kilda as far more satisfying than the record-breaking 119 point win over Port Adelaide in the 2007 grand final.
"I don’t think I will ever have a better feeling than this ever again in my life unless we win another one," said Byrnes, who was quiet early but was influential in the Cats' thrilling final term comeback on Saturday.
"It just doesn't get any better than this, it's the best thing ever and we had to fight for everything because we didn't know we had it won until the final siren."
Byrnes said the 2009 premiership was also more unexpected considering the Saints had dominated the home and away season in losing just two matches.
"People didn't expect us to necessarily win it this year like they did in 07 when we were expected to win, and it could have gone either way."
"And I think that is what makes it so much more special (than the drought-breaking 2007 flag win) and why we are going to remember it forever."
The Cats became the first premiership team ever to win the grand final despite being outscored in each of the first three quarters on Saturday. But Byrnes revealed he was always confident the team would win if it could get in front in the final term, such was the fantastic performance of the Cats' defence throughout the game after the Saints led by just a goal at half-time despite having had an incredible 37 forward entries to 15 in the first half.
"In the last quarter, I knew if we could get in front then our backs would give everything they had (to defend the lead) because