“To have a moment like that in last year’s grand final, and then in this year’s grand final be able to kick a goal, I feel like it’s cleansed me and takes a massive weight off my shoulders,” he told Channel 7 following the game.
“From here I just hope I improve, but that was certainly a factor throughout the year.”
Berry, 26, said his mother Jedda, who died of breast cancer in 2013, remained on his mind during the game, especially as he lined up for goal.
“I’ve got a lot of perspective in my life because I lost my mum when I was young and the resilience she taught me is a lesson,” he said.
“I look back on [the 2023 grand final] and I feel like it’s a part of me as a player and a footballer, but I’m much bigger than just a footballer – I’m a person, and I’ve dealt with a lot worse than that. That was able to give me a lot of perspective throughout the week.
“It felt like there was a calming influence on me when I was going back and doing my [goal kicking] routine.
“It’s funny to say, but it felt like mum was there with me and her hand was around my shoulder.
“I didn’t think I was going to miss it at all. When it came off my boot and it was dead straight, I think through my celebration everyone saw how much it meant to me.”
Berry’s family and close friends attended the game, including his father Troy, brothers Tom and Joel, and Horsham friend Ben Lakin.
Mr Lakin celebrated with Berry after the game and said the emotions of the win were evident.
“It was a pretty special moment after falling just short last year. The pressure had probably built up for the boys and there was a release of emotions after getting the job done this time around,” he said.
“He’s a true professional. He wants to strive to be the best and doesn’t want to let his team down. That showed this time around. He played a ripping game and everyone was pretty proud of him.”
Mr Lakin, who befriended Berry when his family moved from Nhill to Horsham during his primary school years, said maintaining local connections was important to Berry.
Mr Lakin joined the three Berry brothers, along with friend Will Robertson, to run from Dadswells Bridge to Horsham last year to raise money for Breast Cancer Network Australia.
Mr Lakin said he received numerous messages from Horsham locals asking him to pass their congratulations on to Berry following the Lions’ win.
“We were talking about how much local premierships mean to people, and he’s gone and done it on the biggest of stages. The whole town is like that. He would’ve been swamped, but even I’ve had a heap of messages from random people throughout the town who didn’t even know him saying how much it meant to them,” Mr Lakin said.
“It’s a pretty special thing. It just shows how good of a family they are and how much they touch the community and the people around them.
“He’s a very humble person and he remembers where he comes from.
“He doesn’t always think the grass is greener and he respects the people who helped him get to where he is today.”
While Berry celebrated the Lions’ win, another Horsham footballer tasted grand final defeat.
Former Horsham Demon Jake Lloyd was one of Sydney’s better players in the grand final, racking up 19 disposals after starting next to Berry on a wing.
It was the fourth grand final defeat for Lloyd, who also played in Sydney’s losing efforts in the 2014, 2016 and 2022 grand finals.
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