As he celebrated with his family on Saturday night, Matthew Boyd knew one thing - the Bulldogs' breakthrough flag will change his life.
Boyd, 34, was almost moved to tears in the dressingroom while describing what the unexpected flag against the Swans meant to him and the club.
He is unsure whether to play on next year - but looks forward to the changes in his life that await.
"I know it is going to change my life but I am not worried about that at the moment," he said.
"My teammates first and foremost are the most incredible bunch of men that I have had the privilege of playing with. My family, my wife and my kids have been through so much. Being a football player at the top level is a pretty selfish game at times, and they miss out on so much. Right now, it's about giving back to them."
The former skipper has given so much to his teammates - and club - that Boyd, understandably, will take more time to determine what he does best.
Coach Luke Beveridge has said Boyd can play on - if he chooses - and there is no reason why he shouldn't after 27 disposals, including seven rebound 50s, on the biggest day of his career.
On a day when the Dogs ended a 62-year premiership drought, Boyd preferred to talk about his teammates, and their contribution.
One, in particular, was long-time teammate Dale Morris who admitted to having broken his back against Fremantle in the final round of the home-and-away season but was able to get through the finals.
Morris had a match-turning moment in the final term when he tackled Lance Franklin, with the loose ball leading to a Tom Boyd goal which effectively sealed the win.
"That just says everything that there is to say about Dale Morris. The ultimate team man, puts his body on the line every single week for this footy club," Boyd said.
"People don't know how many injuries that bloke has played with ... and carried into the finals."
Boyd also heaped praise on his namesake, Tom, who produced a performance for the ages in his brief career. Tom Boyd, who had been given a club-based suspension through the year after an altercation with a teammate, was superb in the ruck and when pushed forward.
"Tommy was huge for us. He has been huge for us in the second half of the year. He had some adversity throughout the year but responded like good players and good people do," he said.
"I couldn't be more proud of Tom Boyd and what he has achieved for us."
Boyd said the Dogs' ability to remain composed had been crucial through a stunning finals campaign where they became the first team to win a flag from seventh spot on the ladder and having to win two finals interstate.
"We stayed pretty focused and pretty composed through the whole week. There was probably a moment after that GWS game that we actually looked at each in the rooms and said: 'We can probably win it'," he said.
"We probably had those moments every single week of the finals series. Going over to Subiaco and beating a rampaging West Coast Eagles followed up by beating the triple premiers and another interstate club that were well fancied against us. So, we have done it for weeks now."
Hardnut midfielder Tom Liberatore was also almost in tears in the dressingroom, as he looked to find his father - and Bulldogs great - Tony amid the celebrations.
Liberatore senior had the anguish of dealing with losing preliminary finals in 1997 and 1998.
"It means so much ... (having) watched those prelims," Tom said.
