Five flags, two Norm Smith medals, three All-Australian jackets and a spot in the Hall of Fame! Gary Ayres playing career was covered in glory, flags and confetti almost every September. After an incredible career with the Hawks he stepped into coaching to chase another flag in the second half of his AFL journey. The road was bumpier, the highs fleeting and the confetti gone. Ayres reflects on a life in football, from the glory days with the Hawks, to coaching Ablett and Carey and to his recent success with Port Melbourne.