COLLINGWOOD utility Brent Macaffer remains hopeful he will be with the Magpies next season, and is determined to prove his worth in the final seven rounds.
He is aware nothing is guaranteed and that a decision will need to be made on his future at some time in the next few months.
"I love this football club. If I am lucky enough to be given another year here, absolutely that is what I want to do," Macaffer, 28, told AFL.com.au.
"I couldn't imagine going somewhere else. Hopefully I can keep getting a kick on weekend and performing my role."
The free agent played his first senior game since round two on Saturday, playing a crucial role in the Magpies' win over Greater Western Sydney when he shut down former teammate Heath Shaw.
He's not sure whether he will continue to play that role but hopes the coach doesn't share Shaw's tongue-in-cheek assessment when he realised his premiership teammate was lining up on him.
"He said 'Oh, they have brought you back to play on me, have they?'" Macaffer said.
"It was a bit of fun …[there is] never a dull moment playing on Heater."
Although Shaw might not have liked Macaffer sidle up beside him, the return to the senior side pleased his teammates, who know what he has endured in returning from his second knee reconstruction and voted him into the leadership group this season.
When he snapped his first goal since round 14, 2014 in the second quarter against the Giants, his teammates came from everywhere to congratulate him.
"[It was a] bit of relief when that ball went through," Macaffer said.
"It was a bit of a floater as well, so I was sort of willing it in, so for it to go through was great."
After playing as a forward in the Magpies' 2010 premiership team, Macaffer re-invented himself as one of the game's best taggers before going down with a second knee injury that required a reconstruction late in 2014.
He has played most of this season in the VFL, but his selection along with Taylor Adams return from injury meant the Magpies had their five-man leadership group in the seniors for the first time since round one.
"It was great having all five of us out there and having those leaders on the ground to be able to control structures and stoppages and direct the young guys as well where they are supposed to be at any time," Macaffer said.
With baby Sahara born two months ago and a starring role as the brains among the brawn on the panel in the club's cult VFL show Lulie St, Macaffer is keeping busy as he battles to re-establish himself in AFL football.
Last week's win was one step to savour on a long journey.
"To go up there and get the job done [against the Giants] is so pleasing for us as a team, and on a personal level to come back into a winning side was just really enjoyable," Macaffer said.
