And you get the impression that the 27-year-old isn't that upset.
Skipper Tom Harley is set to return for his first game since last year’s grand final, and vice-captain Cameron Ling is due back after his achilles injury, so Corey is set to slide back into his usual understated leadership role.
"It was a nice change, but I was pretty much just keeping it warm for Tom and Cameron for when they got back, but it was nice to lead such a good team," he told geelongcats.com.au.
"Being captain is not overly different, – you walk out first, and you have the last say, but that's about it.
"I don't mind having the last say, but I won't mind handing it back."
One thing he is definitely looking forward to is getting Harley back into the side now the skipper has recovered from post-season knee surgery.
"He's a quality individual and a quality player and he's the captain of this side.
"So to have him back out there, intercepting balls and running round with us, it will be nice."
The talk about whether or not Geelong – on the basis of 48 wins from 51 matches – is the greatest team of all is something that seems not to have dented the collective consciousness in Sleepy Hollow, although the disappointment from that last game in September still shows.
"I don't think too many boys take too much notice of it – it's nice to win games because that's what you set out to achieve.
"We just look at what game is ahead and go out there and try to win that – we're extremely competitive blokes, so to even consider losing isn't in our make up.
"So we just go out there and win the game that's ahead of us, and it's just unfortunate that it [the grand final] was that one game that got away."
