COLLINGWOOD and West Coast have a long finals history, which will come to a head this Saturday when the two teams square off in a Grand Final for the first time.
Several records could be shattered, depending on the final result, with a number of quirks perhaps giving those who believe in omens reason to think their side will win.
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Here are 12 things you might not know about these two premiership contenders.
1. West Coast spent 22 weeks inside the top eight throughout the home and away season, more than any other team in the competition. Twenty of those were spent entrenched inside the top four, equal with Richmond for the most of any side.
2. The Eagles have won 68 of their last 100 games. Remarkably, it's the best record of any club across that period. That includes 31 defeats and one draw.
3. This is the seventh consecutive season where a Victorian side has played a non-Victorian team in a Grand Final, dating all the way back to Sydney's victory over Hawthorn in 2012. Since that day, there hasn't been a non-Victorian team to come out on top.
4. Should Collingwood win, Nathan Buckley would become the first person in AFL/VFL history to win a Brownlow Medal, a Norm Smith Medal and coach a team to a premiership.
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5. West Coast has not beaten a Victorian team at the MCG in a final since it defeated the Western Bulldogs in a qualifying final all the way back in 1999.
6. As the 'away' team, Collingwood will be wearing white shorts on Saturday. However, the Pies haven't won a premiership wearing white shorts since 1930. The club's last six flag victories have been won wearing its traditional black shorts.
7. Should Collingwood win the Grand Final, they would become the third team in four years to do so after finishing third on the AFL ladder. They would also become the second consecutive team to win the flag having finished 13th the year prior. That could be a good omen for Western Bulldogs fans in 2019.
8. There have been reverse results the last four times the same two sides have met each other twice in the finals. The Lions lost to the Pies in the 2003 qualifying final, but beat them in the Grand Final. The Swans lost to the Eagles in the 2005 qualifying final, but beat them in the Grand Final. The Eagles lost to the Swans in the 2006 qualifying final, but beat them in the Grand Final. The Hawks lost to the Eagles in the 2015 qualifying final, but beat them in the Grand Final. It's a good omen for the Pies, who lost to the Eagles in the 2018 qualifying final.
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9. In Chinese astrology, it's the Year of the Dog. The last two times it has been the Year of the Dog was in 1994 and 2006. The Eagles won the premiership in both years.
10. Pies fans, look away now: Only three of the club's 15 premierships have been won on the last Saturday in September.
11. West Coast coach Adam Simpson represented North Melbourne in 21 finals as a player between 1995 and 2009. Nathan Buckley represented Collingwood in 10 finals as a player between 1993 and 2007. Incredibly, not once did they face each other in a final.
12. Collingwood could have France to thank should it win this year's Grand Final. The last three Magpie premierships have coincided with World Cup years. In 1958, where the World Cup was won by Brazil. In 1990, where West Germany came out on top. And in 2010, where the World Cup was won by Spain.
