IT CAME a year after he watched his teammates salute as premiers in 2013 but popular Hawk Matthew Suckling finally achieved his childhood dream to play in a premiership.
Although happy for his teammates and best friends in 2013, the fact he missed out on success after being part of a losing Grand Final the year before was difficult to handle.
So when the siren sounded on Saturday to crown Hawthorn and Suckling as premiers, he was left speechless.
“It’s pretty special, it’s hard to put into words,” he told hawthornfc.com.au
“It’s so hard to describe. I honestly don’t know how to put it into words.
“I’m just absolutely chuffed.”
2013 wasn’t the only time he watched his teammates salute though, with Suckling on the rookie list when the Hawks won in 2008.
It has been a long road to premiership success for the New South Welshman who was originally drafted by the Hawks all the way back in 2007 as a speculative rookie pick.
He spent two seasons on the rookie list without playing a senior game and was then delisted by the Hawks at the end of 2008.
Suckling was re-rookied by the Hawks though and made his debut the next year.
But he struggled with injury in his opening seasons before finally breaking into Hawthorn’s best 22 in 2011, playing 23 games that year.
He hasn’t looked back since then, with the serious knee injury last year his only real hurdle.
“Every premiership means a lot to a lot of blokes but for me personally, it was something I dreamed of as a kid,” he said.
“I came close in 2012 then obviously missed out last year when I got to see how happy the boys were.
“(So) to get one for myself today is something I’m going to cherish forever.”
Suckling celebrates with fans after the win.
Suckling was one of Hawthorn’s best in the 63-point thumping of the Swans, picking up 18 disposals and using his lethal left boot with devastating effect, running at 94.4 per cent efficiency.
He even used that left boot to kick a classy goal in the third quarter to put the Hawks 50 points in front.
It was an emotional moment for the 26 year old as his teammates rushed to congratulate him on further hammering home their advantage.
With the game well and truly out of reach at three-quarter time, the Hawks and Suckling were able to enjoy and soak up the emotion of a Grand Final victory but it wasn’t until mid-way through the final term that Suckling believed the Hawks were home.
On the bench with three minutes to play in the decider, the popular Hawk made sure he got back onto the ground for the moment the siren sounded to crown the Hawks back-to-back premiers.
“I didn’t think we were home until about half-way through the last quarter and the boys started to get a bit happy out on the ground,” he recalled.
“I was on the bench with about three minutes to go so I made sure I got back out there and got around everyone.”
