With Andrew Mackie waiting in the wings, there could be at least one unlucky Geelong player dumped from the line-up that thrashed Fremantle last weekend.
But while Byrnes is anxious for Thursday afternoon to arrive, so he can confirm whether he’s in or out, he says the situation is not a new one.
“I’ve played my whole career, pretty much, close to the fringe,” the dual premiership player said on Wednesday.
“I’m no stranger to being in that position. I think every week I have to play well and do my bit for the side or there’s going to be someone come in and replace me. This week is nothing different."
Byrnes missed Geelong’s win over West Coast in round 22 due to illness and was then left out of the side for the qualifying final against St Kilda.
But the 26-year-old earned a reprieve when he was a late inclusion in the team that lost to the Saints, after wet weather led the Cats to drop key defender Tom Lonergan.
It continued what has been a roller-coaster career for Byrnes.
“In 2008 I missed out on the finals and that was all part of it,” he said.
“You use that to drive yourself to have a better year and in 2009 I was able to stay in. Hopefully I can do the same this year.”
One thing’s for sure. The 98-game veteran is happy he doesn’t have to decide who gets the nod and who misses out.
“We’ve probably got 24 or 25 blokes who deserve to be in the final 22,” Byrnes said.
“It’s a tough decision and I’m just glad it’s left to Bomber [Thompson] and the assistant coaches and not myself.”
