Comeback king Tyson Goldsack couldn't have been happier as he celebrated Collingwood's AFL semi-final triumph with his daughter at the MCG.
The 31-year-old's stunning return to football after tearing the ACL in his left knee in March is the feel-good story of the finals.
And Goldsack is living up to his end of the bargain, backing up his strong game against West Coast with a comprehensive victory over GWS spearhead Jeremy Cameron as the Magpies ran out 10-point winners on Saturday night.
The veteran backman cast a proud figure after the game as he cradled his 13-month-old daughter Harriet in the Magpies' rooms.
"She came to Perth last week but she didn't come to the game. It was too loud and it was just too much," Goldsack said.
"It's good to see her. It's the first game she's been to here. She doesn't know what's going on but I do and it's a good feeling."
The Magpies took a calculated risk in bringing back all three of Goldsack, Adam Treloar and Jeremy Howe from injury for their qualifying final against West Coast.
While it wasn't enough to beat the Eagles, the selection gambit has clearly paid off.
The trio were among the Magpies' best performers against GWS, allaying fears of a second-week slump.
One of three players remaining from Collingwood's premiership side in 2010, Goldsack could be tasked with playing on Coleman Medallist Jack Riewoldt when the Magpies face Richmond in Friday night's preliminary final.
The blockbuster clash will be the first final between the traditional rivals and powerhouse Victorian clubs since the 1980 premiership decider.
The Tigers won their most recent meeting in round 19 by 28 points with Howe (concussion) and Matthew Scharenberg (knee) unable to play out the match.
"I thought we actually matched up pretty good against them," said Goldsack, who watched the game from the coaches' box.
"It was a pretty good game until we lost a couple early which didn't help our rotations, and then they ran over the top of us.
"Hopefully it's the other way around this week and we can finish off nice and strong."
