Patrick Dangerfield hopes his official duties on Brownlow Medal night are the start of a hectic AFL grand final week that ends in triumph for Geelong.
The Cats decided they would not challenge the star midfielder's one-game rough conduct ban at the tribunal, making him ineligible for the Brownlow.
The tribunal did sit on Tuesday night, however, with the jury upholding Hawthorn veteran Luke Hodge's one-match ban for striking Sydney's Tom Papley.
But the spotlight was on the Cats and their superstar midfielder as they deliberated fighting his charge.
As last year's winner, Brownlow protocol dictates that Dangerfield puts the medal around the winner's neck at the gala function, held on the Monday before the grand final.
Dangerfield said he has not given the unusual prospect any thought.
Speaking after the Cats confirmed their decision, Dangerfield said his only desire was a Geelong flag.
"I'm hoping we're preparing for a game the coming Saturday ... it hasn't entered my thinking," he said.
"The most important thing is being there on the final day and being triumphant.
"We've got a lot to achieve this year, so we have to be pragmatic about it."
Geelong would have risked a two-match ban for Dangerfield by taking the case to the tribunal, at a crucial stage of their season.
With a month left until the finals, the second-placed Cats have a massive home game this Friday night against resurgent Sydney (sixth).
Next week they host Richmond, currently fourth.
Dangerfield was the narrow Brownlow favourite before his suspension and now Richmond onballer Dustin Martin heads the betting.
Cats football manager Steve Hocking said they weighed up a tribunal challenge until 10am on Tuesday morning - an hour before the deadline.
Dangerfield was banned for a tackle that left Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer with concussion.
"I respect the AFL for what they're trying to do and trying to protect the head - concussion is certainly something we take very seriously," Dangerfield said.
It will be the first time Dangerfield has missed a game since late in the 2013 season, when he was playing for Adelaide.
The Hawks launched an impassioned 'steel arms' defence at Tuesday night's hearing at AFL headquarters but it wasn't enough to clear Hodge.
The 33-year-old, who will retire at the end of the season, will miss Sunday's clash against Richmond, which is also good mate Jarryd Roughead's 250th game.
The 302-game veteran didn't risk missing any extra matches if he was unsuccessful at the tribunal, but was slapped with a $2,500 fine in addition to the ban.
Also on Tuesday, Sydney star Lance Franklin accepted his $1500 fine for making contact with Hodge's face.
And Collingwood onballer Taylor Adams has taken a $1000 fine for rough conduct.
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