Leading the chorus and surrounded by his victorious Cats team-mates was Jason Snell, who announced his premature retirement from the game five days earlier.

Aaron Lord best summed up the feeling: ``There are certain moments in footy you treasure and I think that was one of them.''

Vice-captain Peter Riccardi said Snell was in his thoughts before Saturday's game against West Coast.

``Not much was said before the game about him but everybody would have been thinking of him, I know I was,'' Riccardi said.

``You see people retire because they are getting old but at 24, his situation is really sad.''

Snell broke his lower leg and dislocated his ankle after landing in a marking attempt against Melbourne in round three last year and hasn't played since. He has been told he will never run again.