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.
Perhaps the most famous prelim' of all time.
Although the Dons were a powerhouse and had been flag favourites all year, Carlton seemed blissfully unaware, as they set about causing one of the all time upsets in AFL finals history.
On this Victorian election afternoon, 'Kouta' was dominant, amassing the football at will and peerlessly inspired his Blues teammates to victory. However, it was a tackle from Fraser Brown that truly rocked the AFL world and delivered the club a ticket to face off against North Melbourne the next week.
It's no wonder why Blues fans are still talking about.
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.
This game can best be remembered for 'God Jnr's arrival as a genuine star of the game.
The Cats had been dominant all season and were expected to cruise through to the Grand Final, only for the Pies to take the fight to them and threaten a massive boil over.
If any scars still existed from the previous year's finals loss to Sydney, the Cats didn't show them as they held their nerve in front of 98,000 wild spectators at the 'G'.
Livewire Steve Johnson gave us all a glimpse of the star he would become before Ablett's crucial last quarter goal and that famous line from Dennis "cometh the moment, cometh the man."
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Having only lost two-games during the home and away season, the Saints were the powerhouse in 2009.
In low scoring affair in wet conditions, the Doggies took it right up to them, even leading in the final term.
The stage was set for Saints icon Nick Riewoldt to be the only difference between the two sides. Booting four goals in a tight contest, including the final pair, 'Roo' led his Saints to a victory by 7 points.
As good as Riewoldt's toe poke goal to seal it was, it was the huge park mark he took and then goaled 30 metres out that indicated this contest would be remembered as a classic.
Both sides were good all season, with the Hawks on the cusp of their three-peat era. The Pies were the reigning premier and looking to continue their momentum. Still, with the Hawks leading by 17 points at three-quarter time, that looked fanciful.
However, the last quarter proved one for the ages, with the Pies swinging momentum back in their favour until Buddy Franklin kicked dribbled through an incredible late goal.
Cue a Luke Ball snap in the dying stages to send the Woodsmen through to the Grand Final, and the Pies fans at the 'G' into raptures that literally rocked the foundations.
After an 11 game losing streak, this contest finally spelt the end of the 'Kennett Cure', as the Hawks finally knocked off the Cats, who they hadn't beaten since the 2008 Grand Final.
Despite sitting 20-points down at three-quarter time, the Hawks responded with an electric final quarter capped by Shaun Burgoyne's goal to put them ahead.
The celebration from Burgoyne, coupled with the elation from Hawks fans, gave you the impression you were witnessing a historic moment.
Despite exploding out of the blocks, the Power's inaccurate kicking - 3.9 in the first quarter - cost them.
The Hawks hung tough early, before leading for most of the second half. However, Port were not done with and fought back to within three-points with a minute to spare as they launched attack after attack.
Hawks legend Jarryd Roughead was eventually the difference, booting six-goals. The atmosphere was so electric it felt like a decider, with the grandstand finish proving much more entertaining than the Grand Final a week later.
Possibly one of the greatest games of footy of all time.
The Giants with their wealth of talent were favourites on their home deck, however, an extremely vocal Western Bulldogs crowd made the atmosphere feel like neutral territory.
In a see-sawing contest that had everything, you couldn't avert your eyes for even a second.
For the Giants, losing Callan Ward to concussion proved costly as the Doggies stormed home to a famous victory. Marcus Bontempelli's goal to put them ahead still gives chills before the Pups' fairytale was sealed a week later.
A year after the Pies shocked the footy world and dismantled the reigning champs Richmond, they found themselves in another prelim'. Only this time they faced a talented and aggressive Giants outfit.
A dour and low scoring first half gave way to an electric second half, with the Pies clawing back much of the Giants' lead in front of a packed house.
With their rabid fans urging them on with five-minutes remaining, the Pies were within a kick. Both sides willed themselves into contest after contest and if not for a Chris Mayne shot being touched on the line and a Taylor Adams shot on goal hitting the post, the Woods would have secured back-to-back Grand Final appearances.
As it was, the Giants booked their maiden Grand Final berth in a memorable contest.
In their quest for a third flag, the Tigers took on Port in front of a raucous Adelaide Oval crowd.
The Power's young stars lit it up early, with Xavier Duursma and Connor Rozee kicking crucial goals. Port were aggressive and got into the faces of the reigning champs, but Richmond withstood the pressure, with both Dustin Martin and Kane Lambert proving crucial in the clutch moments of the game.
In a tough year for everyone around Australia, the atmosphere generated by the reduced crowd in Adelaide was a rare highlight. The game itself provided plenty more. Notably Brad Ebert's final action in AFL football, a gutsy spoil that resulted in a serious concussion.
The Tigers held on in a thriller and would go on to complete their dynasty a week later.