HAD GEELONG forward Shaun Mannagh not finally got his chance in the AFL at the age of 27, he likely would have been in the Werribee team that beat the Cats in last week’s VFL qualifying final.

Instead, the proven big-game star proved to be a key player in the AFL qualifying final on Thursday night, showcasing the qualities that served him so well as a goalkeeper in the VFL on the biggest stage of all as his Cats thrashed Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.

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It was a surreal feeling for Mannagh, who soaked up the moments after the match, scoring three goals and finishing with 13 saves, one of the best players on the pitch against the Power.

Mannagh’s former Werribee teammates also made it to the first stage of the VFL finals this year and the Geelong forward hopes they will be smiling as they watch him play a key role for his new club.

“I hope they’re happy for me because I’m happy for them because they’re in the qualifiers as well,” Mannagh said on Thursday night.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without them and watching them play against our VFL team last week was a bit unsettling because I’m a Geelong player now.

“But I love watching them do really well and I hope they go far.

“If it’s a Geelong v Werribee grand final that would be pretty cool, but I hope they’re delighted for me because I’m delighted for them.”

Mannagh was one of six debutants in Geelong’s finals on Thursday night, but coach Chris Scott noted the mature recruit likely already shows signs of being a big-game player after his six-goal performance in last year’s VFL grand final.

He admitted he had managed to stay more composed than he had when he was a teenage AFL player, but the initial atmosphere at Adelaide Oval and the final moments after the win were both special.

“Being a little older and a little more mature, (you don’t ride) the ups and downs. Instead of going up and down, you just have a middle ground,” he said.

“But to run in front of 50,000 is something special. You want to be there at the start to try to drown out the noise, and I think we did that and were able to keep going.

“The whole game was quite surreal, so just soak it all in. The Geelong chant was something special. When you probably know the game’s won and you just see our fans and you really enjoy the moment.”

Mannagh, whose wife, daughter and mother were all in attendance at Thursday’s final, paid tribute to forwards coach James Rahilly for helping him develop this season, as well as fellow forwards Gryan Miers, Tyson Stengle and Brad Close.

The goalkeeping group celebrated their victory over the Power but they could not have done so without the good play of tall players Jeremy Cameron and Shannon Neale.

“A few of the lads scored three or four goals each and it would have been nice if Closey had scored one in his 100th but he gave more than he gives so it was a great night and we’ll keep coming back,” he said.

“I just try to listen and absorb everything I can from them.”