Not even hearing a pop in his foot could take the smile off Lachie Neale's face as the Brisbane Lions charged to AFL immortality.
Neale has managed a left heel issue for weeks, barely training, but fronting up time and time again to inspire the Lions to a dramatic turnaround in fortunes.
The inspirational, hard-nosed captain shone through pain in Saturday's 18.12 (120) to 9.6 (60) victory over the Sydney Swans.
Two-time Brownlow Medallist Neale, 31, fought his way to 34 disposals, 18 contested possessions and nine clearances to help drive the Lions to victory.
"I had a scan on Sunday and I just said to the physios 'I don't wanna know what's going on,'" Neale said.
"So I'll probably find out in a couple of days.
"I think my plantar fascia snapped during the game. I felt something pop. That's why I was hobbling a bit in the last."
Neale has experienced his fair share of heartbreak.
He was the substitute in Fremantle's 2013 grand final loss to Hawthorn, then suffered a four-point defeat to Collingwood as Brisbane co-captain last year.
"Oh 100 per cent it's worth it," he said.
"It's been unbelievable. Worth every minute.
"I probably thought it would take maybe five, six years and it has.
"But we've been around the mark that whole time and to get the reward today, it's worth every heartbreak over the last 13 years, really."
For Neale, the flag has vindicated both his move from Fremantle in 2018, and a decision by he and wife Jules not to return to Western Australia in 2021.
"That was more family-orientated with COVID and a little one on the way," he said.
"We just were testing out if we wanted to go back, whether it was possible or not and trying to gather all the information.
"It got out in the media and we had to rush that process a little bit but at the end of the day we sat down and went through it together as a family and decided to stay in Brisbane and see out my career there.
"The club were great with saying they could provide support for us with the family and the decision was made that we wanted to stay."
Less than two years later, Neale was appointed co-captain alongside Harris Andrews.
A Brownlow Medal arrived in 2023, then a flag in his second year in the top job.
"It's pretty special. We've got a pretty special bunch of guys and to be elected by the playing group to lead the footy club is very humbling and I don't take it for granted, for sure," he said.
"It's great to share it with Harris, he deserves this as much as anyone."
