ONE OF the unluckier players in the AFL finally gets his shot at premiership glory after falling short on three previous occasions.
 
Ben McGlynn was one of a raft of young Hawks who burst on to the scene under Alastair Clarkson in 2006, but after two promising seasons, he battled injury throughout 2008 and missed out on the stunning premiership win that year.
 
He joined the Swans in 2010, but missed out on the flag two years later – against his former club – when he hurt his hamstring in the first week of the finals. When he finally got to play in the Grand Final in 2014, the Swans were thumped.
 
You have to be a bit stiff to have played for both the Hawks and the Swans over the last 10 years and not to have at least one premiership medal to your name, hence the widespread hope of teammates past and present that that changes on Saturday.
 
"He's a good fella," said former Hawk teammate Brad Sewell. "He was hugely popular among the playing group and it was a big shock when he left the club."
 
McGlynn left the Hawks for more playing opportunities and 126 games over seven seasons in Sydney would suggest he made the correct choice.
 
But he is fondly remembered for his five years at the Hawks, where he was taken under the wing of then captain Richie Vandenberg, a fellow native of Wentworth, in southwest New South Wales.
 
"He played as a high half-forward for us and his hardness and gut running was a huge part of the style of play we had," Sewell said.
 
Sewell recalls McGlynn pushing hard for a finals recall, but he couldn't get his body right in time. "Chance Bateman played a similar role for us. He was a bit older and a bit harder."
 
Stuart Dew was a Hawthorn teammate of McGlynn in 2008 and 2009 and is now one of his coaches at the Swans.
 
"In '08 he missed out on the Hawthorn flag but he was a bit younger and probably didn't realize what an opportunity it was," he said.
 
"2012 was absolute heartbreak and you see those stories all the time. Geelong's Daniel Menzel and Hawthorn's Brendan Whitecross are prime examples of that, so if he is able to get the result this year, it will be through his hard work and mental toughness."
 
McGlynn became a father this year, which he said has been great for his football.

"Some of these guys can be over-thinkers but I think he now has things in perspective. Yes, he wants to do well and he's really driven but it's only a game and he's really driven. That's helped bring his best footy," Dew said.
 
McGlynn played a huge first half in the preliminary final win over Geelong last Friday.

"The beauty at the moment is that he's so fit and can cover so much of the ground," Dew continued.

"At grounds like the MCG he can run up and back all day and it's really hard for someone to keep up with him.
 
"And if we're not going so well in the midfield we know we can throw him in there because he's so hard and can add some bite. When he does those things he always sneaks in for a goal or two."
 
McGlynn, 31, remains out of contract and the Grand Final might be his last game.

"I'm not sure where he's at but he can keep delivering the quality of footy that he is, he has another season in him for sure," Dew said.
 
Sewell also isn't sure what the future holds for one of his good mates, but he has given Hawthorn people a conundrum when watching the Grand Final.
 
"Those that known him and played with him would be so happy if he won a premiership," he said.

"I know everyone is caught up with the romance of the Bulldogs, but we have a bit going on with the Swans as well."