Eight years and as many AFL All-Australian selections later, it's worth remembering where Gary Ablett and Geelong were at the end of a disastrous 2006 season.
Ablett's already-lofty standing in the game gained even more lustre on Tuesday night when the Gold Coast captain became the first player to make eight All-Australian teams in a row.
All-Australian selector Kevin Bartlett said Ablett might become the greatest player in the league's history.
But his Geelong team-mates had a vastly different opinion after the 2006 season, when the Cats brought in sports consultants Leading Teams.
Geelong had just slumped to 10th after starting the year as strong premiership fancies.
Rumours abounded of internal problems and coach Mark Thompson went close to leaving.
The jury was also out on Ablett, son of all-time AFL great and Cats legend Gary Snr.
"Little Gaz" could play, no doubt.
But it's AFL folklore that it wasn't pretty when team-mates gave Ablett feedback as part of the Leading Teams review.
"I've heard that story so many times," Ablett said with a laugh on Tuesday night.
"The thing they haven't explained is that there were more than just me who got up.
"Through the space of a week, I think every guy got up and was told the errors he needed to improve."
In his next breath, Ablett readily admits that it was something of a wake-up call.
He said it took him three or four years to realise what it took to play consistently well in the AFL.
"I do think back to that, where the boys really sat me down and said 'we think you can work harder on the training track and there are so many areas where you can improve'," he said.
"As hard as it was at the time, I walked away from that and thought 'you know what, these boys really believe in me and there's a lot of improvement left in me'.
"So it was a good thing."
The following year, Ablett had his breakout season and started the All-Australian streak as Geelong broke their 44-year premiership drought.
Ablett is now a two-time premiership player and a two-time Brownlow Medallist whose career has flourished even further since joining the Suns three years ago.
For the first time, this year's All-Australian function featured team blazers for the 22 players.
The pocket on Ablett's blazer was nearly covered with embroidery, detailing his All-Australian honours.
Asked if the jacket might end up framed in a pool room, probably joining his vast collection of trophies, medals and other awards, Ablett smiled and said "no doubt".
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