Brisbane coach Chris Fagan tried not to stop and reflect on his upcoming 200-game milestone leading the Lions, but throughout the week, he says he couldn't help it.
Fagan is the only current AFL coach who didn't play a match of top-flight football, and when he lifted the premiership cup in 2024, he set a new record.
And now he is about to do it again, becoming the first AFL coach in the game's history who didn't play a match in the elite competition to reach 200 games with the clipboard in hand.
But it hasn't all been sunshine and rainbows for the overly joyful character, who took on the Lions quest when the Queensland club was at an all-time low, winning a combined 14 games in the previous three seasons.
"I knew when I came to Brisbane it was going to be pretty hard," Fagan said.
"It had been hard at Brisbane for a long time, and we had to start from ground zero and build. The inner me wanted to get wins every time we played, but I had to stay realistic, and we measured success in smaller and different ways, as opposed to just wins.
"We needed to do that to build the confidence of the group. An example of that was that we had to win more quarters than we did the previous year."
Fagan's background in football ranks among some of the great names in our game, having played 263 games for Hobart, Sandy Bay and Devonport in the Tasmanian Football League, kicking 430 goals during his time.
He then spent nine seasons at both Melbourne (1999-2007) and Hawthorn (2008-2016) as an assistant coach, whilst also performing the GM of Football at the Hawks during the golden era, yielded four flags in his time at the club.
But even Fagan, who was vouched for and supported by Greg Swann, Danny Daly and Leigh Matthews, said he was surprised they "took a punt" on him as Brisbane coach without an AFL playing background.
"I probably never thought I'd coach a game of AFL football, let alone 200," Fagan said.
"To get to that milestone is pretty special for me and my family. My greatest feeling is one of gratitude to all the people who have helped me along the way.
"I wouldn't have gotten to 200 if it wasn't for the players, and the high-quality group that they are. The resilience that they are able to show over the last eight or nine years.
"My first 44 games, we won 10. Our record since then has been fantastic."
Somewhat fittingly, Fagan will bring up his milestone match against Hawthorn on Saturday at the MCG in a highly anticipated top-four clash.
Keidean Coleman will be rested for the contest after pulling up sore following his long-awaited AFL return from a knee reconstruction.
"His knee was a little bit sore as well. There's nothing sinister there, but it's all part and parcel of not having played at the highest level for a fairly extended period of time."
Ruckman Oscar McInerney has intriguingly been named as an emergency for the Hawks game, but Fagan declared he won't play unless something "untoward happens", with an eye on Round 12's Thursday match against Essendon.
Jarrod Berry will return from concussion protocols, while Deven Robertson will be given an opportunity after a string of impressive VFL performances.
