The young Emus flanker welcomed his first child into the world with partner Caitlin Dwyer, Sonny arriving in April just when the thick of COVID-19 lockdowns hit.

He said Saturday's grand final triumph, his first as part of Emus' First XV, has topped off the year.

"It's probably been the best year of my life," he said.

The no-holds-barred flanker plays on the front foot and is often in the thick of the niggle. The way he unsettles teams while the Emus juggernaut rolls on a feature of the greens' play throughout their undefeated 2020 campaign.

But even Greatbatch was taken aback by the Lions' start to Saturday's decider.

"City gave it to us in that first half. We thought 'whoa' ... but we found our feet in the second half and played awesome," he said.

"That is the best feeling I've ever had. Boys played out of their skin in these conditions."

Greatbatch came off the bench in the 2018 grand final victory over the Bulldogs, but says Saturday's win is sweeter.

"This is the best one. This is unreal," he added.

It also adds to the plethora of titles Emus have won as a club with a Greatbatch in the top side's pack, with Sam's father Matt a pillar for the teams that enjoyed grand final success in the 2000s.

"There will be a few drinks for me and him I reckon," Sam smiled.