IF SAM Docherty’s being honest, two milestones in the one year is “a bit embarrassing”.

And, if he’s still being honest, he’s got his sights set on much bigger than any impending milestones in the coming years.

That’s not to say he’s not grateful. Few are more grateful than Carlton’s No.15.

Despite everything, “as funny as it sounds”, he feels blessed for his career. Proud, too — just like everybody else will be at the home of football when he runs out for 150 in his childhood colours.

“It’s had its highs and lows, that’s for god damn sure. As hard as it’s been, the challenges I’ve had to go through and the bits and pieces I’ve got to manage now, I feel like I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I didn’t have any of that. And I’m really proud of the person I am today.

"I always see my journey as part of my personality, and I feel like I’m a better husband, a better dad and a better friend from the perspective I’ve gained.

“[The milestones] are good recognition of my career, but I’m at the stage where my eyes are on a bigger goal . . . hopefully we’ve got a bit more in us.”

There’s a fair bit of nostalgia with a lot of what Docherty does these days. 

The regular drive from southside to IKON Park is one he still enjoys to this day, harkening back to over 12 years ago when the young Bluebagger was trying to make his way for the Vic Country under-18s side at the old Carlton ground. He normally drives past the Peter Mac Cancer Centre, too, as a reminder for where he’s been, where he wants to go and why he does what he does. 

That sentimentality extends to game day, as well, when he seeks out daughter Ruby immediately after entering the change rooms — win, lose or - in the case of Ruby’s first game - draw.

“Any big moment in your life changes the way you see the world. Little ‘Rubes’ has changed mine,” Docherty said.

“I’m a big footy thinker and I always found it a bit difficult to switch off when I left the Club. The perspective of footy is - as much as I love it - it’s my workplace and there are more important things in life: when I come back home with Ruby, it’s so much better. I just want to find out what she’s been doing for the day. I normally get about an hour and a half with her at bath time, and that's my time to lock in with dad mode.

“Sometimes I get a bit nervous about taking her in the circle for the song, especially if it’s a big win and the song is quite loud. We’ve had instances throughout the year where Ruby has bottom-lipped and Rosie Martin has started bawling . . . Jack and I have to pick our moments better.

“A lot of the older boys said it throughout their career that there aren’t too many better feelings than post-game, when kids are running around in the rooms. It creates a different environment in there, and we’re lucky that we’re coming into that period where a large portion of our senior core are either getting married, getting engaged or having kids.”

You know what else helps change an environment? Bonfires at Ed Curnow’s place. You may have heard it.

Docherty can’t help but smile when asked about a story that seemingly won’t stop growing. 

But one thing that Docherty wouldn’t downplay is the personal connection that the playing group has for one another, the markers that were laid down and - in particular - his support for someone who was his very first senior coach when arriving at Brisbane at the end of 2011.

“I’ve been laughing with a few of the boys. We were laughing that we could say anything at the moment and people would believe it — we could turn this camp into something unbelievable.

“To be honest, I’ve had a few of these chats in my time - not to the degree of going down to Ed’s and having a bonfire - but it was about aligning with what we want to be. We wanted to say that by the end of the year, we’ve committed to something and as a group, we’d be unified coming out of it.

“I’ve had those meetings in the past, and they don’t have much change. But the difference with this one is the group genuinely believed in what we were going after, and I think that’s showing now with the commitment we’ve had to each other and the coaches’ commitment to helping us.

“‘Vossy’ and I are two completely different people to the ones when we first met when I was 18. What I can tell you about him is he’s got every tool that every successful senior coach needs: his ability to have hard conversations is outstanding, but his personal connection to each player is really, really good.

“Part of why I’m so proud of the Club is because in the past, when we were having down moments in the middle of the year, we could be trigger happy. From the playing group side, we didn’t want anybody other than ‘Vossy’ to coach us, and we had some really strong leaders in the upper echelons of the Club that shared that belief.”

There’s that pride again. It’s clear what playing footy - and at this club, of all clubs - means to Docherty.

Just don’t call him ‘Carlton veteran’.

“It hurts!”