WEST Coast has more recent Grand Final experience and heartache to motivate it, but Collingwood fans can rest safely knowing their players with the biggest game appearances have stood up when it's counted most.
Just five Magpies have played in Grand Finals and only Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom remain from the 2011 team beaten by Geelong.
On that occasion the midfield marvels were two of their team's best players, with Pendlebury racking up 33 touches and Sidebottom 23 and two goals.
On the other team that day was Travis Varcoe, who starred in victory for the Cats and this time will be running out wearing black and white.
Collingwood has two others that have tasted action on the final day of the season – Tyson Goldsack and Chris Mayne.
Remarkably Goldsack was part of the 2010 replay against St Kilda after being overlooked for the initial decider, while Mayne played in Fremantle's loss to Hawthorn in 2013.
Let's have a look at how the five Pies fared in their most recent Grand Final performances.
Tyson Goldsack (2010 replay v St Kilda)
Came in at the expense of Leon Davis and did not disappoint. Goldsack's flexibility to play on talls and smalls was again on display and he even drifted forward to kick the game's first goal. A valuable contributor to the easy victory.
Chris Mayne (2013 v Hawthorn)
After a slow start, Mayne was instrumental in giving Fremantle some hope. He kicked a long bomb from 55m to draw the Dockers within three points midway through the third quarter. Finished with 13 disposals, five marks and a goal as a second forward target alongside Matthew Pavlich.
Scott Pendlebury (2011 v Geelong)
A standout with 33 disposals. Had 19 in the first half when the Magpies held a narrow lead. Won 10 clearances and added seven tackles and has shown time and again he's a big match performer.
Steele Sidebottom (2011 v Geelong)
Much like his skipper, Sidebottom has showed so many times he's a man to be feared in September. On this day against the Cats he got back to basics with seven tackles and added 23 disposals and two goals, including one brilliant toe poke, gather, spin and finish from 45m in the third quarter. Fresh off 41 touches against Richmond, the 27-year-old again looms as crucial.
Travis Varcoe (2011 v Collingwood)
Will have fond Grand Final memories, not only winning, but being a major influence. Kicked the first goal of the game inside 15 seconds, added another three minutes later and was then on the end of the game's defining play early in the last quarter where he kicked a third after Geelong swept the ball the length of the ground. Three goals and 21 disposals all up for the speedy Varcoe.
