A year after being fined for flipping the bird at a spectator in a SANFL final, Billy Frampton is on the verge of realising a once-unlikely AFL premiership dream.
The self-styled "Framp-chise", Collingwood's replacement for the injured Daniel McStay in Saturday's decider against Brisbane, has never done things the easy way.
Frampton was drafted by Port Adelaide at pick No.84 in 2014 and played just three games in five years before crossing to Adelaide, where he added another 21 games in three seasons.
The big man joined Collingwood in last year's trade period and has played 15 games.
Frampton was an emergency for the first two finals but McStay's untimely preliminary final knee injury delivered a grand final call-up.
"There's probably been a fair bit more downs than ups in my career so far, but to be able to run out tomorrow makes that all worth it," Frampton said on Friday.
"Staying the course and persisting is always been how I've tried to conduct myself and get a little bit of reward, and hopefully a lot more by the end of tomorrow.
"It's just obviously deciding this is what I want to do with myself and just giving it my all.
"If I bundled out at the end of my career and it didn't work out, at least I can look back and say I had a crack and took opportunities when they came.
"I don't want to die wondering so I just gave it everything I could and took my opportunities.
"It jhas led me to a pretty good place at the moment."
Frampton can play in the ruck or defence but will start forward in the absence of McStay, who has supported his replacement while also giving intel on former club Brisbane.
"He sent me a really nice message when he heard the news and he's just been so supportive," Frampton said.
"It's such a horrible position for him to be in. The way he's conducted himself is unbelievable.
"He's really supportive of me and just wants us to go and get it done for him."
Stopping Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews from running the show in defence will be crucial for Frampton, Brody Mihocek and Mason Cox.
"It's trying to just be accountable to him and hopefully he doesn't take too many marks," Frampton said.
