Regrets and resilience set up Lion Berry for AFL glory
One of the biggest mistakes of Jarrod Berry's AFL career set him up for his crowning moment.
A year ago, Brisbane midfielder Berry gave away a careless 50-metre penalty that allowed Collingwood veteran Steele Sidebottom to sink the goal that sealed the Magpies' grand final victory.
On Saturday, Berry stood tall, collecting 20 disposals and kicking a crucial goal as Brisbane ran away for a 60-point grand final thumping of Sydney.
"Chalk and cheese," he said.
"I've spoken about that (mistake) being part of my journey, and it's gonna be. I'm just so proud that this (win) is now part of my journey as well.
"Just the resilience of being able to fight and get back here and those dark times and those times that motivated me, made me want to go to the next level and get back here.
"I knew once I got back here I was just going to try my hardest for the boys."
The second-quarter goal itself was crucial - while also righting a wrong from last year.
"I felt like I was just gonna kick it, I knew," Berry said.
"It's funny - you train these things in training and after every session for the whole year, I practised my goalkicking from 45 to 55 after every session.
"It was probably a little bit because Sidebottom and those guys kicked those long goals in that grand final.
"So it came to my moment and for some reason I had this calming sense that Mum was watching me and I just f***ing kicked it straight through."
Berry has spoken openly about his mother Jedda, who died from breast cancer in 2013, including in an emotional TV interview after the preliminary final win over Geelong.
"It was pretty special to be able to re-live those messages that Mum taught me about resilience and about hard work and not giving up and to be able to bring them out on grand final day, on the biggest stage and execute them," he said.
Teammate Hugh McCluggage was "stoked" for the resilient winger.
"I watched that interview he did with Channel Seven last week and I was nearly in tears to be honest," McCluggage said.
"Because I knew how much last year hurt him.
"When he played his 150th, Fages (coach Chris Fagan) called him the glue. He's the glue to our brotherhood. He puts everyone else first. He could be a great inside mid, but he plays on the wing.
"One of my great mates, nobody deserves it as much as him."
Berry plans to take some time to quietly reflect.
"I'm sure I will," he said, before cracking a grin.
"But it's probably not gonna be in the next four days, that's for sure."
