Hugh McCluggage is enjoying the feeling after his match-sealing goal on Friday knocked three monkeys off Brisbane’s back.
His rushed snap simultaneously corrected his own waywardness in front of goal, ended a 15-game losing streak to Richmond and won them an AFL finals game.
After losing both finals games last year, the midfielder admits it felt good as they prepare to face the winner of Geelong and Collingwood in next weekend’s preliminary final at the Gabba.
“A fair bit of relief swept over me when I kicked that one,” he said on Tuesday.
“It was nice to kick the sealer and move on … it was tough sleeping on Friday night and the crowd, just unbelievable how loud they were considering it wasn’t even a full house.
“It (the losing streak to Richmond) got played up a lot but internally we knew they were just another one we wanted to tick off and it means we can just play with an open mind now.”
The All-Australian squad member has coupled eight goals with 21 behinds, his inaccuracy at odds with his tremendous form around the ground to make him the face of the side’s kicking wobbles.
Another miss in the third quarter against the Tigers could have proven costly, but McCluggage has vowed to keep backing himself at the pointy end of the season.
“I tried to forget about it straight away, but they went up the other end and kicked one I thought ‘what have I done’.
“You’ve just got to move on and make the most of your next chance; I’m not someone that will shy away from it and in the moment you’re not thinking like that, just going with the flow.”
The team marched straight to their meeting room after the win to shift the last-remaining marker on their board of teams they were yet to beat.
“The last few times we’ve played Richmond they’ve got away from us and it looked like that might happen again on the weekend,” McCluggage said.
“When you haven’t won a final it can start getting to your head, but it gives us confidence now we can match it with anyone.
“You’ve got to dream (of a premiership) and … we’ve thought about going all the way but we’re a process team and we’re not looking forward to anything further than what’s ahead.”