Less than a year after he was on the AFL scrapheap, Oleg Markov has reached the pinnacle.
And the freshly-minted premiership Magpie wouldn't change a thing.
Markov played 23 games at Richmond between 2016 and 2020, playing games in all three premiership years without featuring in an AFL flag himself.
Traded for a future third-round pick at the end of 2020, Markov added 28 games at Gold Coast before being delisted last year.
Then he earned a lifeline under Magpies mentor Craig McRae, his VFL premiership coach in 2019, as a supplemental selection pick in February.
Markov hasn't looked back, and claimed his first AFL premiership in Saturday's grand final win over Brisbane.
"I've worked really hard for this," Markov told AAP.
"I'm really proud of myself and look, it's my journey and I wouldn't have it any other way.
"I'm glad I went through the hardships. It's put me in the position I am today.
"So I'm super-happy. In a funny way I'm happy I missed out on those things because this one feels incredible."
Markov was initially overlooked for a Collingwood list spot and started training with Carlton.
But when an injury to Charlie Dean opened another list spot, McRae came calling.
"I'm just super-happy he gave me the call," Markov said.
"Besides my partner, he's probably the quickest person I pick the phone up to - unless it's selection day and then my phone goes on airplane mode.
"But I'm so happy to have Fly not only as my coach but as a mentor and a human in my life.
"He's an incredible person. So I'm super grateful that I can call him whenever I want and he'll pick up as a friend, as almost like a father figure."
Markov, who has signed for next season, never let himself get comfortable in Collingwood's 22.
"When I got selected to play the grand final I was like 'well, there's only one game left,'" he said.
"So I'm just super-happy. I'm grateful.
"I've had this this mindset of not having cemented a spot. I guess it made me more hungry, made me more present."
Markov is still processing a career turnaround that seemed so unlikely.
"The moment the siren went today, feeling relief, joy, happiness," he said.
"I just started tearing up and bawling my eyes out for about two minutes. I didn't know what to do.
"So I'm so lucky to feel this. I'm waiting for the emotional roller coaster to stop and for someone to ground me but right now, let me be up in the clouds.
"You dream of this and it's become a reality."
