Those three words probably said more about the bloke than any others uttered during the 15-minute media conference which effectively saw the curtain drawn on a remarkable career.
Glass, his chiselled jaw line sporting signature stubble, has achieved amazing things in a stellar 270-game career, but as a person he has not changed.
Sure, he has evolved in both a physical and mental sense, but the underlying qualities that make him the person that he is are as evident today as they were when he first walked into the West Coast Eagles 15 years ago.
He’s a country bloke with strong family values. An elite athlete, minus the elite ego. He is as much the son of Graham and Aileen Glass as he was on the day of his birth: May 14, 1981.
NISBETT: Glass held us together
Humility is a wonderful attribute, but in labelling himself as a scrapper, Glass could not have undersold himself and his achievements to any higher degree.
Fortunately, the man sitting alongside him, senior coach Adam Simpson put some perspective on Glass’ wonderful achievements.
“Four-time All-Australian. All-Australian captain at full-back. That says it all,” said Simpson.
Yes, being selected as the All-Australian captain in 2012 was an outstanding achievement. He was elevated to that standing ahead of Gary Ablett, possibly the greatest player ever, Scott Pendlebury, Job Watson and Trent Cotchin.
But there’s still more. Three Club Champion Awards, runner-up on another occasion.
SIMPSON: Glass is a legend of this club
Full-backs simply do not get that kind of recognition. Midfielders dominate individual awards because they are around the ball more often and their output is easily measured statistically.
But make no mistake, Glass is an icon of this football club. He sits third on the games played list, behind Glen Jakovich and Dean Cox, was captain of the club in 129 games, just nine fewer than dual premiership skipper John Worsfold – his coach for the bulk of his career.
And Glass took on the captaincy at a challenging time, perhaps even a little reluctantly.
After the club had literally limped out of the 2007 finals series and Chris Judd headed back to Melbourne, there was a need to find a strong leader. Someone who could help create a significant cultural shift after some highly publicised misdemeanours.
Glass was the man.
RESPECT: Darren Glass' teammates pay tribute to their decorated skipper
He bought into the program, stood alongside Worsfold, chief executive Trevor Nisbett and the board and began the process of righting the listing ship.
It took time, but with men of that quality leading the way, the job was done. The off-field transformation was completed some time ago, but the on-field revival is a work in progress. There have been glimpses of a team rebounding to return as a force, but those runs have not been sustained.
Glass, however, felt he had nothing left to give. That it was time to step aside and allow a younger player the opportunity to cement a player in the defensive unit.
As selfless as ever.
He believes there is depth in the back half, that Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown were now the senior defenders and it was time to allow them to take charge back there.
PHOTO GALLERY: Darren Glass' career in pictures
As Glass’ wife Alicia and their three children listened in, squatting on the carpet in the Bill Walker Room, his teammates circled around the media throng. Most of the players were stunned when he had told them only minutes earlier of the decision.
While he had been battling from week to week – and most of his teammates were aware that he was sore – few anticipated it had degenerated to the extent where he could see no way of continuing.
For Glass, the alarm bells that were sounding softly in the back of his mind grew in volume when he was a late withdrawal from the team to play North Melbourne a fortnight ago.
Having played against GWS in round eight, then enjoying the bye in round nine, he led the team against Collingwood at the MCG a week later. But after that light playing schedule, he could not recover to play against North.
WATCH: Darren Glass' retirement press conference
Then, after playing against Hawthorn in Launceston last Saturday, he was not going to be available to play against Gold Coast on Saturday. For him, that was the final indicator that his time in elite football was over.
While Glass steps aside as captain, there is no immediate plan to elevate anyone within the leadership group to that position. That load will be shared by Scott Selwood, Josh Kennedy, Matt Priddis and Eric Mackenzie.
