LURED out of retirement, win a Central West AFL premiership medal, play alongside your sons in that grand final day triumph - season 2019 will be one to remember for Mick Phillips.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The veteran Bathurst Bushranger was part of the Rebels outfit which beat the Orange Tigers by 30 points in the senior men's decider on Saturday.
Amongst those he embraced at George Park 2 after the siren sounded were his sons Ben (23) and Lachlan (19).
It was not the first time Phillips had enjoyed a grand final success story as a Bushranger - his prior efforts including booting the winning goal in a reserve grade decider - but it was his sweetest.
"That was special, but this has got to top it. That was a reserve grade premiership and all premierships are special," he said.
"But this being a first grade premiership and playing with my two sons, that's something that's hard to explain the feeling.
"I never imaged this, all these guys I've played with this year, I was coaching in the under 14s, Ben and Paddy and some of them are even younger.
"I'm just so lucky to still be able to play football and play with these guys - it was just amazing."
READ MORE: Rebel army overcomes the Orange Tigers
READ MORE: Kennedy's dream team are crowned champions
In 2016 after the Bushrangers Rebels lost to Cowra in the preliminary final, Phillips announced his retirement for the third time.
But a phone call from Rebels co-coach Tim Hunter lured him back for another tilt this season.
"It was amazing that Tim made the call and asked if I wanted to come back for a bit of a run," he said.
"It was pretty hard to say no to that because I hadn't really done much for a couple of years. I thought it was time to try and get out and keep fit.
"And well, the boys decided that wanted to come along as well. I'd never played with them before."
As for whether of not Phillips will now hang up his boots for good he quipped: "If they let me."
