That's how Marcus Barham remembers the football career of his younger brother, Jordan.

Success had a habit of following Jordan - who died in a car crash last week - throughout the 2000s, including twice in the Bendigo Football-Netball League with Gisborne.

In a six-season span Barham won premierships with the Gisborne under-18s (2000), Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup (2001), Central District in the SANFL reserves (2002) and Gisborne seniors in the BFNL (2005).

And the tall, athletic, strong-marking key forward certainly made his presence felt when there was a flag to be won, with his 2001 TAC Cup and 2002 SANFL reserves grand games particularly dominant.

Barham proved the major stumbling block to the Bendigo Pioneers winning the 2001 TAC Cup flag when he was unstoppable on the MCG in the Cannons' forward line, booting six goals in a best-on-ground performance as Calder won by 37 points.

Following Barham's grand final day heroics he was rookie-listed by Port Adelaide in 2002.

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Although he didn't play an AFL game for the Power, his talent was on show for Central District (his aligned club) in the SANFL reserves grand final against Port Magpies when - opposed by Matthew Lokan, who would go on to play for Collingwood - he booted 10 goals.

"He had a good run of success through that period winning flags at all different levels," Marcus said.

"Whenever he went out on the field, he got the best out of himself, but unfortunately he had injuries along the way... a bad back and he broke his leg when he was working in western Australia.

"He probably missed out on another three or four good years of footy and I'm sure he would have had a bit more success... you've only got to look at his grand final record to know that he loved it on the big stage."

As well as his one year on the Power's rookie list in 2002, Barham also spent a season on St Kilda's rookie list in 2003 before returning to his home club, Gisborne, during the 2004 season.

The Bulldogs lost the 2004 BFNL grand final to Sandhurst, ensuring a fiercely determined Gisborne side now coached by Marcus Barham after he took the reins from Mick McGuane returned for the 2005 season.

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Gisborne would go on to get redemption that 2005 season by beating Eaglehawk in the grand final, with premiership captain Luke Saunders recalling the pivotal role Barham played on - he booted 59 goals - and off the field that year.

"We had lost a lot of players after the 2004 season, Marcus had taken on the coaching role and Jordy took on a really strong leadership role that year," Saunders said.

"He took us for a lot of our fitness work and his intensity was awesome to see. He really stood up for his brother Marcus as coach and for us players as well.

"Jordy had a fantastic season that year and we went on to win the flag. I played side-by-side with Jordy in the forward line and I never needed to say too much to him because he always gave 110 per cent on the field."

One of Saunders' most enduring memories of Barham on the field was a towering mark and goal he kicked early in the final quarter of the 2005 grand final to put the Bulldogs nine points up on the way to a 31-point victory over the Hawks.

"We really needed someone to stand up at that point in the game and Jordy came out, stood on someone's head and after kicking eight or nine behinds, he steadied himself, went back and kicked the goal," Saunders said.

"I've got the video of the game and watched it so many times where he kicks the goal and it was just like, 'come on boys, jump on my back, we're going to win this flag'."

Barham had 12 shots at goal in the 2005 flag decider, finishing with 3.9 in what could have been yet another big grand final haul.

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It wasn't just football where Saunders and Barham - who would later win the BFNL's Ron Best Medal in 2008 with 75 goals, the Bulldogs' best and fairest and also play inter-league that season - connected, it was also in the plumbing trade as apprentices.

"We both started our plumbing apprenticeships at the same time and once a month we'd go to trade school in Sunshine and just talk footy all day and every day for the week and how good it would be to win a flag in 2005," Saunders said.

"I didn't really enjoy going to trade school, but Jordy would always keep me up and just had that special knack for making those around him happier... he'd always manage to put a smile on your face. He was a real character and always making those around him feel better."

A back injury that required surgery several years ago forced Barham to finish plumbing, but that opened an avenue to focus on his other great passion alongside family and footy - winemaking - where he and wife Lauren had started their own label, Travail, with the help of Ben Rankin from Wilimee Wines and were leasing a vineyard at Carlsruhe.

"Jordan knocked on my door one day to say g'day and asked if he could learn a few things about winemaking and give me a hand," Rankin said this week.

"From there we became really good mates working together out in the vineyard and in the winery.

"Last year we brought some fruit and made some wines together and he had his own label, Travail. We're going to be bottling some more of his wine in February, which is going to be tough, but he was a great source of energy and great to be around.

"I learned a lot from him because he'd ask a lot of questions and make you think, 'why are we doing things this way' and that has been really good for me."

Barham, 38, is survived by his wife Lauren and children River, 4, and Hudson, 2.

"His football career was outstanding, yet it was off the field where his loss will be most felt by those that loved him. He had an infectious laugh and a mischievous side that endeared him to many. He was truly a great man with a big heart that cared deeply for his friends, family and teammates," the Gisborne Football-Netball Club said.

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