Sydney Swans forward Ben McGlynn admitted to feeling overcome with emotion following Saturday night’s semi-final win over Adelaide knowing the chance to realise his premiership dream was still there for the taking.
McGlynn missed out on the 2012 premiership after straining his hamstring in the qualifying final against Adelaide.
The then 27-year-old, who was in his third year at the Swans, fought hard to convince match committee during grand final week but coach John Longmire made the difficult decision not to risk the gritty forward.
He's recounted time and again how much that finals series still haunts him to this day.
Having had little opportunity to make things right, McGlynn said this year’s finals series is looking much brighter.
“(On Saturday night) I was overwhelmed after the game knowing I’ve got another opportunity in a prelim to make that dream come true,” McGlynn told Channel 7’s Game Day.
“2012 was obviously disappointing, 2013 we went out in the prelim. 2014 speaks for itself, I’ve pretty much written that year off the calendar and last year we went out in straight sets.
“We’ve been around the mark and carrot is still there to take. Hopefully we get through and that dream comes true.
“But, first, we’ve got a big game on Friday night and I’m looking forward to that.”
Longmire faces another tough decision at match committee this week with four key players under injury clouds.
Jarrad McVeigh (calf) and Gary Rohan (knee), who were casualties against Adelaide, face a race against time to be fit for the trip to Melbourne.
There is also doubt surrounding the availability of Kurt Tippett (jaw) and Callum Mills (hamstring) who went down against GWS.
Longmire failed to rule anyone out earlier in the week, leaving the door ajar for all four to prove their fitness during the team’s main training session on Wednesday.