Brisbane midfielder Jarrod Berry has choked back tears paying tribute to his late mother after his side’s heart-stopping AFL preliminary final win over Geelong.
Berry’s Lions came from as much as 25 points down at one stage to pull off a remarkable finals comeback for the second consecutive week to book their spot in their second grand final in two years.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jarrod Berry chokes up speaking about his late mother.
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The 26-year-old was instrumental in Brisbane’s win with 20 disposals, four clearances and four tackles.
He will now get the chance to right the regrets he has from last year’s epic decider against Collingwood.
Berry was below his best against the Magpies in 2023, notching just 11 touches.
But it was a key moment in the last quarter that “eats away” at him, he admitted some months after the grand final.
Usually so composed in the midst of chaos, Berry gave away a crucial 50-metre penalty in the dying minutes, which brought Steele Sidebottom to within range of goal.
Sidebottom went back and kicked a clutch goal from outside 50, which effectively sealed the game.
Speaking after Saturday night’s win over Geelong, and with the disappointment of last year behind him, Berry was lost for words and overcome with emotion.
“I don’t really know what to say,” he told 7NEWS.
“To get the opportunity again, from last year’s disappointment, the role I played in it — it’s pretty special.
“To get back and have another crack, it means the world to me.”
He said his costly error in last year’s decider has been burned in his memory bank.
“It’s driven me every single day,” Berry said.
“Those times during pre-season and even sometimes before big games you get flashbacks — before the Pies (game), you get flashbacks of that moment.
“You feel responsible, but now we’re here again and I’m just so blessed to have this opportunity again.
“Football’s not everything but it’s a very big part of my life and these boys are a very big part of my life as well and I just want to repay them with my effort, so that’s what you’ll see from me on grand final day.”
Berry couldn’t hold the emotion back any longer when he mentioned his late mother, who passed away with breast cancer in 2013.
“You ride the bumps and bruises with every moment, but that one for me obviously stood out,” he said.
“It’s part of my footy journey and it is what it is, but I’m a bigger person than just football.”
Choking back tears, he added: “My mum taught me about resilience and I’m a resilient person.
“We’re back.”