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ROMAIN Grenville has experienced the pain and elation of football.
A little over eight weeks ago, he was lamenting a missed shot at goal that cost St Mary's a draw in a thrilling match against Newtown & Chilwell.
On Saturday, the West Indian-born St Mary's star was the hero.
Grenville was the toast of the club after slotting a goal from outside 50 on the siren to keep the Saints' finals hopes intact.
"It was a pretty good feeling. That's what you play football for," Grenville said.
"To kick a goal when it really counts ... it was an awesome feeling."
With seconds remaining and St Mary's trailing Geelong West-St Peter's by three points, he took a brilliant pass from Scott Condy.
Standing 55m out from goal and on a tight angle, the 24-year-old knew the Saints' fate was in his hands.
"The first thing in my head when I had the ball was 'there's only seconds left, back yourself to kick it'," Grenville said.
"To be honest, I tried to not over-complicate it and I went back, ran in and had a shot.
"It helicoptered its way through, and for the last 10 metres or so it drifted to the right, but it went through. It wasn't pretty, but you take it."
The Roosters players dropped to their knees in despair, while elated Saints mobbed Grenville as he dashed around saluting the crowd.
"It was quite surreal. It really didn't hit me until yesterday (Sunday) that I'd kicked the winning goal," Grenville said.
"It was important in the scheme of things. If I missed it, our finals chances decreased a lot. "The feeling would've been different around the club but luckily it went through the goals and we're still a chance."
Grenville said he was relieved to kick the goal after the disappointment of a missed chance in Round 5.
"You always remember the ones you miss and you think 'I could've been the winner. I could've been the hero on the day'," he said.
"If I kicked that goal (against Newtown), at least we drew but I missed and it's been hanging over my head since that day.
"And it's funny, the one I kicked earlier in the season came off the boot perfectly (and missed). This one
didn't come off as well but I got the result in the end. I guess luck was on my side."
