Some moments in football are impossible to script.
For GIANTS member Paul Waterhouse, a kick at ENGIE Stadium 10 years ago became one of the most memorable moments in the club's 15-year history.
At three-quarter time of the GIANTS' round 12, 2016 Sydney Derby clash with the Swans, Paul stepped onto the field with one chance to do what nobody had done before - successfully kick a footy through a stack of tyres from 30 metres away for $100,000.
He nailed it.
A decade later, the memory is still as vivid as ever for the Swan-turned-GIANTS fan.
"I was at the game with my family and before the game the ground announcer told everyone to take a selfie and upload it to Instagram with a #DrivenToPerform hashtag,” Paul recalled.
"We did it without really thinking anything of it and then at quarter time I heard my name and someone tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'mate, you're on the big screen.
"That's how I found out I'd be doing Kick for Cash."
Making the moment even more remarkable was the occasion itself.
"It was quite a bizarre collection of milestones all happening on one night," Paul said.
"It was the club's 100th game, Derby Number 10, and there was $100,000 on the line.
"For the kick to actually go in on that night made it pretty special for everyone."
With no warm-up and only one attempt, Paul walked onto a slippery winter surface wearing jeans and an old pair of shoes.
There was only one thing on his mind.
"'Don't shank the kick,'" he laughed.
"I actually said that on the microphone beforehand.
"As long as I didn't shank it, I figured I'd be happy."
Looking back, Paul believes years of kicking a football as a kid may have helped.
"I grew up as one of four brothers and we'd spend hours every day standing about 30 metres apart in the back paddock kicking the footy to each other.
"Maybe there was a bit of muscle memory there.
"The distance itself didn't really worry me. Obviously it still needed plenty of luck to actually go through the tyres, and I definitely got lucky that night."
Once the ball sailed through, chaos erupted.
"I honestly didn't know how to react," he said.
"I didn't know where to run or what I was supposed to do.
"It became a bit of a mini stacks-on with the ground announcers."
The attention only grew from there.
"The next day the phone absolutely rang hot. Radio, television, newspapers, podcasts.
"I think the idea of someone making what was basically a one-in-a-thousand shot just excited so many people.
"I had mates I hadn't spoken to in years getting in touch saying, 'mate, I saw the kick!'
"It gave us all a big laugh for a long time."
Toyo Tires executives from Japan happened to be attending the match and personally congratulated Paul as he was taken into the rooms post-game to discuss the special moment with the likes of Toby Greene, Shane Mumford, and Steve Johnson.
The night held another special memory for Paul, who also had with him in attendance his daughter Elsie, who was just days away from turning two.
Today, Elsie is 12 and her little sister Harriet, now eight, has joined her as a passionate GIANTS supporter.
"Elsie has grown up hearing the story of Dad kicking the football through the tyres," Paul said.
"She's seen all the photos and videos over the years.
"Now both my girls love the GIANTS. They love putting their scarves on and we love getting along to games together."
While many dream about how they'd spend a $100,000 windfall, Paul and his family took a measured approach.
"We'd like to think we were pretty sensible with it," he said.
"That night was also the White Ribbon Cup and from memory $100 from every goal kicked was donated to White Ribbon.
"We matched that donation from our winnings, helped out a few friends and family members and put a good chunk into the mortgage."
Although the kick became part of club folklore, Paul's connection with the GIANTS had already begun years earlier.
Admittedly a Swans supporter growing up in south-west Sydney, he switched allegiances after the GIANTS entered the AFL.
"I really liked the fact the club represented where I grew up," he said.
"I liked that they were the underdogs. I liked the colours, the name and what the club stood for.
"I switched over around 2014 and I've never regretted it."
Ten years later, Paul is still a committed member who rarely misses an opportunity to support the orange and charcoal.
"I try to get to as many games as I can," he said.
"I was at the 2019 Grand Final, I've travelled interstate for finals and made weekends away out of games like Heath Shaw's 300th.
"I love the brand of footy the club plays and what the club is all about, both on and off the field.
The relationships formed through following the club’s journey have become just as important.
"It's given me a lot of joy.
"You ride the highs and lows, but it's also created a lot of friendships.
"I've met people through watch parties, away trips and even just seeing someone wearing a GIANTS scarf in an airport lounge.
"It's become a real point of connection."
