From the moment he entered the MCG for his sixth AFL grand final, Geelong captain Joel Selwood had the capacity crowd on his side.
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Selwood led the Cats out on to the field, then stopped for a moment.
The 34-year-old spoke with former teammate Gary Ablett, then scooped Ablett's son Levi into his arms and made his way out onto the turf with the club legend's offspring.
Selwood had announced on Friday he would run through the banner with Levi, who has a rare degenerative disease, as a way of thanking Ablett and his family for their service to the Cats.
A touching moment for a former teammate
Ablett, Selwood's premiership teammate in 2009 and 2011, retired after Geelong's 2020 grand final loss in Brisbane.
It was a touching moment that underlined Selwood's highly regarded character.
Once the pre-game formalities were over, Selwood got stuck straight into business in his record-breaking 40th AFL final and 355th game, leading from the front in claiming his fourth flag, and first as captain.
The Geelong skipper started on the bench then entered the game for Patrick Dangerfield, turning back the clock in a wonderful first-quarter performance.
A strong start for the skipper
Selwood racked up 12 touches, three score involvements and four intercepts to play a crucial role in helping the Cats to their 35-point lead at the first change.
He was surely in the mix for the Norm Smith Medal but slowed from there, as his teammates took centre stage.
Selwood continued to work his way through the game to finish with 26 disposals and a goal as the Cats prevailed 20.13 (133) to 8.4 (52).
"They're so hard to win," he told the Seven Network.
"Every side says it, but we deserved one."
Is retirement on the cards for Selwood?
What is not yet clear is whether Selwood will choose to end his decorated career on a high.
He was chippy when asked on Friday about the prospect of retiring after Saturday's final siren.
"Another one trying to push me out the door. But that's OK," he said.
The explosion of emotion as Selwood kicked his first and only goal of the game in the dying minutes of Saturday's decider indicated the Cats were prepared for the possibility of their skipper calling time.
The roar when he accepted his medal, giving away his boots to the AusKicker who presented it, and lifted the trophy was even louder.
But if it is the end, no one will be pushing Selwood out the door.
He will walk through it under his own steam.
Australian Associated Press
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