Collingwood forward Jarryd Blair traces his last-gasp goal to deliver the Magpies victory over Essendon in the 2012 Anzac Day match. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun
Magpie Jarryd Blair is all smiles at training. Picture: Getty Source: Herald Sun
FOR Collingwood's Jarryd Blair, it's as vivid as if it happened yesterday - the toepoke that dribbled the ball over the line and prompted the agonising wait for the review to clear the winning Anzac Day goal.
"I knew I had got the outside of the boot on the ball, but the video seemed to show that I might have touched it with my hand, which I didn't,'' Blair said today.
The last score with only a minute left on the game clock delivered the one-point victory against Essendon at the MCG last season.
"That goal was something I'll treasure for the rest of my life,'' Blair said following the Magpies' recovery at the St Kilda sea baths.
"I wouldn't say I won the day for our side. There was a lot that led up to that moment, but to be able to contribute and kick that goal, it was an amazing feeling and something I'm pretty proud of.
"It was a case of right place at the right time. There was a contest in the goalsquare and I was lucky enough the ball fell my way.''
Blair said the occasion overrides any problems with the ultra-short recovery and players will be hyped for the honour to represent the AFL on such a special day.
"It's obviously a different experience than your standard six or seven day break. But it's a day everyone wants to be part of and come Thursday no-one's going to be feeling very sore. It's a massive day for Australia and it's a privilege to play in it and little niggles become irrelevant,'' he said.
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Blair returns to the MCG on Thursday as a more assured Magpie. Categorised early last season as a small, crumbing forward, he's now a valued member of the midfield group, particularly for his defensive workrate.
He was thrust into the midfield role after Luke Ball's knee injury after three rounds last year and that role has continued after best and fairest winner Dayne Beams' delayed start to this season.
"There has been a little more midfield time with Beamsy not being available for the last month. I went through there a bit last year and I've spent more time due to injuries mainly,'' Blair said.
"The idea of any pre-season is to allow you to perform and that's what has happened. It was another tough summer and it's paying dividends for a lot of the boys.
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"Pre-season was probably the toughest one that I've been a part of and the body held up well to fill me with confidence going into the year.
"Our (US) altitude camp was one of the toughest we've had, it was to the next level of intensity and continually backing up those sessions, day in, day out.
"The way the game's going with less stoppages and less stopped play, you've got to be able to cover more ground with more intensity.
"It's around the contest where games are won and lost and I don't think it will be any different this week.''
Blair said gun forward Travis Cloke's brilliant early season form has fuelled the collective confidence of the Pies.
"It was pretty impressive. When he's in full flight like that, he's pretty hard to stop and, when he's playing that type of footy, it fills the rest of the side with confidence, that if you get the ball in there, he's going to get the job done. He has had a pretty good summer and he's feeling pretty good and that's showing in the way he's playing his football,'' Blair said.
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