Welcome to the best weekend in footy!
Sure, everyone wants to be in the 'big dance', but it's often the preliminary finals that seem better than the main event. It's not hard to see why, as the desperation to get to that last Saturday in September can be felt around the country.
Each season's pair of prelim's seem to appeal a larger portion of real fans and are contrasted by the far more corporate feel of Grand Final Day.
As this penultimate weekend so often produces contests that live long in the memory, we have decided to look at some that still live in the memories of fans everywhere.
2. Port Adelaide vs. St Kilda (2004)
This game was another classic, as the rising Saints exploded out of the gates in season 2004, with cult hero Fraser Gehrig a dominant force.
It was in this game that the G-Train kicked goal number 100 for the season and the fans stormed the field.
Controversially, the Saints had all the momentum prior to the former Eagle's first-quarter major, with the break giving the Power time to reset - a collective act which they took full advantage of.
Gavin Wanganeen kicked two stunning goals in the second half, while Shaun Burgoyne's goal square desperation to prevent a Brent Guerra goal and a draw, is the stuff of legend.
The images of Saints legend Robert Harvey sinking to his knees in despair while the Power players celebrate in the background perfectly encapsulates the fine line between agony and the ecstasy that a preliminary final always delivers.
