GEELONG captain Tom Harley is proud of the fact he'll be able to reflect on a career that involved playing alongside 10 All-Australians across a two-year period.
On Monday night, seven Geelong players were named in this year's All-Australian side, with Harley picking up his first guernsey as well as vice-captain status.
While down on last year's record nine selections, the Cats boasted 10 players in the extended squad of 40 with Joel Selwood, Darren Milburn and Andrew Mackie missing out.
Harley, Matthew Scarlett, (defenders), Jimmy Bartel, Joel Corey, Gary Ablett (midfielders), Steve Johnson (forwards) and Corey Enright (interchange) made this year's side.
The fact just five of the 2007 Cats' class made it through this year, with Enright and Harley the new faces, indicates just how deep the reigning premiers' talent runs.
"I'm not sure nine will ever happen again, that was just one out of the box and everyone thoroughly deserved their position," Harley said, after the announcement on Monday night at a gala dinner in Melbourne’s Docklands.
"I guess from a side that had one All-Australian in 10 years, to now have 12 in our side including Brad Ottens [who made the extended squad last year], it's pretty remarkable.
"It is something we'll look back on in time and be pretty proud of.
"At our 2007 premiership reunion we'll all have a toast to how good we were. I know personally I'll be able to sit back and say; 'You know what, I actually could play the game OK', and that's nice because it is our profession."
Harley, 30, also said he'll be proud of the fact he was picked to captain the all-conquering Geelong side when looking back on his career.
"I know when I was appointed captain there was a feeling of it being overwhelming," he said.
"It was huge honour, and I'm just so proud to be a part of it, to see our players up there, proud to see the way they present themselves when they speak to the media. They always present themselves in a really positive light.
"They play the game the right way, and in years down the track, I'll sit back and reflect and be really satisfied with what we've done so far and then hopefully what we can do in the future as well."
However, while Harley emphasised how influential last year's premiership success has been to the club, he said the players are not satisfied with stopping at one flag.
"A premiership is what you're measured by, and we've got one," he said.
"That's one more than four generations of Geelong teams before us, so we're very satisfied with that.
"But having said that, we won't rest until we've exhausted all our efforts as a club, whether that's this year or five years down the track.
"With the way the AFL cycle works, you can't stay up forever, but we'll make sure that we create a culture that ensures we don't bottom out. That's where I'd like to leave it.
"I'd like to be part of a legacy that leaves a really strong culture at the footy club."
