Sam Thompson stood on the grandstand wing of the QEO, embraced his Dad and placed his premiership medal around his old man's neck.

Sam's actions were more than just a nice gesture.

By the time Sam was born in the mid-1990s, his father Darren was into the second half of his playing career with Eaglehawk.

Sam was too young to remember Darren's playing days, but he's heard all the stories from the Borough faithful about how good he was and he's seen the plethora of trophies won over a distinguished career.

285 senior games and six club best and fairest awards make Darren Thompson a great of the Borough.

The only thing missing was a premiership medal.

Darren played in two losing grand finals for Eaglehawk in the mid-1980s, when the now defunct Northern United was in the middle of a premiership four-peat.

The Borough battled through the mid to late 1990s and were in trouble on and off the field.

Despite the Borough’s woes and countless offers from other clubs around the region, Darren stayed loyal to Eaglehawk and played out his career at Canterbury Park.

"Dad was twice the player I am, so this is just as much his as it is mine,'' Sam said of his premiership medal.

Darren, who was one of Eaglehawk's two runners this season, said it was a proud moment to see his son win a premiership with Eaglehawk.

"It's absolutely unreal. I'm very proud of him,'' Darren said of Sam.

"It was more nerve-wracking watching from the sidelines than playing.

"I was riding every bump with him.

"I played in a couple of losing grand finals and I've been runner for the club in a few losing grand finals as well, so I was getting to the point where I was wondering if it was ever going to happen.

"When Riley Saunders kicked the goal off the ground in the last quarter I let myself go for the last seven minutes of the game."

Ironically, Sam Thompson's biggest thrill in footy came against the same team he suffered his biggest disappointment.

In round 10, 2016, Sam ruptured his ACL against the Storm and underwent a knee reconstruction.

After 12 months on the sidelines he returned midway through 2017, but struggled and didn't play a part in Eaglehawk's finals campaign.

"Last year I was no good. It took me two years to get back,'' Sam said.

"I really didn't know if I'd get back. I got dropped midway through this season and I got down on myself, but the coaches showed confidence in me and I went forward from there.

"I just can't believe we've won one."

After being “born into Eaglehawk”, Sam’s played all his junior and senior footy with the Borough and has no plans to change that.

Matching Dad's 285 senior games and six best and fairests might be a stretch for Sam, but no matter what happens on the footy field over the next decade or so, the Thompsons will always have fond memories of Saturday, September 22, 2018.