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A DECISION to postpone retirement has paid off for Bell Post Hill forward Shane Tobin.
The 35-year-old yesterday revealed he had almost hung up the boots after a third successive premiership with the Panthers, believing he would struggle to earn a game this season.
"It's very surreal for me," Tobin said of winning the Neville Whitley Medal for the Geelong and District Football League best and fairest.
"It was only that a few blokes retired that I decided to give it another crack and now it's turned out in my favour.
"I heard rumours after last year's grand final that it was doubtful I'd get a game. I wanted to prove I could still play."
Tobin "got on my bike" and trained hard in a bid to force his way into the senior team.
He was a trim 77kg when the team started pre-season training in November.
"I had it in my head before Christmas that I was going to go out and train every night. I was doing weights and running 6km a night. I didn't want anyone to know, I was just doing everything I could.
"When I went back to training, I felt so much fitter and everyone was noticing how much better I was fitness-wise, and that probably helped me spend more time on ball.
"I look around and see all these great players and I still don't feel I'm as good as them. It sounds stupid because I've just won the medal," he said.
" 'Grg' (coach Brent Grgic) just put a lot of pressure on me to bring out my best. He'll let me know in no uncertain terms."
Tobin polled in 10 games to securing a stunning medal win, defeating East Geelong's Andrew Challis by two votes.
"I feel very proud. It sounds silly, but last pre-season I said to Cam Addie, 'you might as well start calling me Neville because I'm going to win the Neville Whitley Medal' and we had a bit of a joke about it all year and he's been calling me Neville," he said.
"Playing in a good side always helps because you're always near the ball and you've got great players around you."
Tobin said there was real hunger to achieve the ultimate success.
"With the side we've got, we're always a chance (to win a fourth successive flag)," he said.
"We won't stop. Whether we win lose or draw, we've got 22 blokes who will give everything. That's the way it's been for four years.
"I think last year hindered us a little bit, playing only two games before the grand final.
"This year, I think if we can win this week, it will give us a break and the perfect opportunity to win the grand final."
