Oleg Markov becomes a premiership player with Collingwood after almost starting a new chapter away from footy after finishing up at Gold Coast in 2022.
"It definitely crossed my mind most days in the off-season that my AFL career was over. It was more so just trying to find joy in footy. I still wanted to play footy, I just didn't think it was at the AFL level," Markov told AFL.com.au after the Grand Final.
"I thought I couldn't rekindle that spark. I saw it as a chore or as a job, rather than something I once enjoyed as a kid. To come into this environment, I feel like a kid again. I'm able to smile, make mistakes, move on. I'm so grateful for this opportunity."