Jobi Harper was always going to play on.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Taking a strong contested grab deep in the forward pocket of UTAS Stadium, the 27-year-old began opening up the angle as the three-quarter time siren sounded.
Plan B saw the 2020 player of the year straighten up and pinpoint a right-foot checkside into the Blues' cheer squad, giving his side a huge momentum boost going into the last term.
"I wanted to play on and kick it on my left but I went to take a step and the siren went," the 27-year-old said.
"I had to go back and rethink it and I was lucky I suppose."
RELATED: Flag completes Blues' perfect day
It was a moment that put Harper's name at the forefront for the Darrel Baldock Medal voting, which he went on to win by two votes from teammate Jay Blackberry.
The pair were premiership players together in 2013 when Harper won his first best on ground medal with South Launceston.
"The premiership medal is the one that means a lot," he said.
"When Mitch [Thorp] gave me the captaincy two years ago I said to him the one thing I've got in my head is lifting that cup with him next to me.
"He said that to me this morning 'remember what you said to me at the start about lifting that cup?' and that's what we did.
"It's nice to win these kind of awards but it wouldn't be anything without the premiership."
HARD TO KEEP UP WITH TIM
Brought into the side with two games left in the home and away season, VFL recruit Tim Jones enjoyed his best game of the season in Saturday's grand final win.
"It's amazing - just to be able to come back playing with some really good mates, coming home and being able to play footy I've loved every minute of it," the 23-year-old said.
"It was physical, it felt like us and them left everything out there - lots of knocks, hard footy but it was still skilful, it was amazing to be a part of."
The ex-Western Storm midfielder is unsure what 2021 will hold, but knows he has a locker waiting for him at Windsor Park should he so choose.
"I'd known a lot of the boys before, I either played with or against them," he said.
"Even before I arrived - I think I counted 32 people message me before I even arrived and just the way they accepted me was amazing."
AIN'T NO STOPPING NOW
Thorp didn't let speculation about his retirement linger.
Set to turn 32 on Christmas Day, the two-time flag coach revealed both he and fellow veteran Tim Bristow would go again in 2021.
"No - [I'm] going around next year again for sure," Thorp said.
"I'm really pleased to go around again next year, Tim Bristow's going to go around again next year purely because he didn't get the opportunity to finish off the way he wanted to finish.
"Jobi's signed on for another couple of years, so have Blackberry and Dylan Riley, so we think we've got the balance right."
DARREL BALDOCK VOTING
- 13: Jobi Harper, 11: Jay Blackberry, 7: Tim Jones, 4: Dylan Riley, 1: Josh Ponting