Maybe so MT but history presents us with something else to ponder.
Cast our minds back to Prelim final week 1980.
Geelong v Collingwood
Geelong finished on top in 1980. Same this year
Collingwood had won 2 sudden death finals to get there. Same this year
Collingwood beat reigning premier Carlton in the semi. Beat reigning Premier this year.
Saturday September 20 1980
Collingwood 13 15 93 def Geelong 13 11 89
More history though I am drawing from a very long bow
A Collingwood win next week would probably be as big as Carlton's defeat of Essendon in the Prelim of 1999. Here we go
Essendon won 18 games to finish on top. Same as Geelong this year
Carlton finished in 6th spot that year. Same as Collingwood this year
Carlton beat W Coast to get to the Prelim. Collingwood have done the same
Just to add some more spice to it and give it that eerieness of de ja vu
If Parramatta beat the Bulldogs in the NRL semi they will take on Melbourne in the Prelim just like in 1999 the year the Storm won the NRL.
Having said all that the Cats will wallop the Pies next week but coming up with this did make my mind wander and I deduced that I have too much time on my hands thinking about our great game and hoping I get to live finals euphoria once again in the near future.