A third consecutive shot at premiership glory. A third chance at a return to the top flight.
For West Coburg, it has been three impressive seasons after the COVID-interrupted years of 2020 and 2021 without a senior flag to show for it.
That could change on Saturday when the Burgers tackle minor premier Maribyrnong Park at Coburg City Oval in what shapes as a mouth-watering Division One decider.
First-year West Coburg coach Daniel Barnes denied there was any extra pressure on his team to deliver after back-to-back grand final defeats.
"We probably haven't even spoken about the last two years since October and November, when we actually came together and said next year's not about redemption because you can't redeem something you lost," Barnes said.
"It's about what we want to achieve, what we want to build and what we want to be known for as the group that's representing the jumper today.
"Everything for us since basically day one of pre-season has been about 2024.
"It feels a lot calmer this year. I know a lot of people bring up our history of finals performances and grand finals, but I just feel there's a calmness amongst the group. We feel we're in good shape."
West Coburg will be hoping to produce a better showing than 12 months ago when it was on the receiving end of a 96-point hammering from Deer Park after finishing the home-and-away rounds with an unblemished record and four games clear at the top of the ladder.
In 2022, the club entered the final game of the season as underdogs and was outclassed by Airport West.
Barnes said he was proud of the way the Burgers had responded from last year's bruising defeat to finish the regular season with a 14-2 record.
"Last year was a different feeling after the grand final to 2022," Barnes said, pointing to the fact the Burgers finished third with 12 wins from 18 games two seasons ago.
"There were certainly moments in (last year's) grand final that were really disappointing for us as a football side and a football club.
"There was a lot of time in pre-season spent on that – how do we actually rebuild and become the footy club we want to become and control our own story and narrative.
The Burgers have remained united despite the forgettable display against Deer Park in 2023, fielding a 22 of one-point players in both finals this year, underlining their ability to develop homegrown talent.
They have maintained a stable senior group, with returning star Muhammad Saad the headline inclusion this year.
"For everyone to have stuck around... we play on 22 points and I think that's something pretty special for a football club in this day and age to be competitive with homegrown players," Barnes said.
"A lot of people talk about the three-year history of this club with grand finals. You've got I think nine players who will probably end up playing in all three, probably about 15 or 16 from last year.
"As much as everyone said we retained the list, which we did, we've still been able to transition and evolve and players have taken that next step and grown. That's a really important thing for us.
"Now there's some new blood in the team as well."
Barnes heaped praise on Saad, who has 44 goals to his name in 2024 in his first season back at West Coburg after a stint with Airport West, underlining his status as one of the competition's leading players.
Saad will be a key factor in the outcome of this weekend's decider, given Maribyrnong Park also boast no shortage of goal-scoring options.
"Mo's been brilliant. He's got a magnificent left foot, as most people would be aware. He gets forward of the footy and kicks goals. Midfielders who can impact the scoreboard are a huge thing," Barnes said.
"The biggest thing has probably been his leadership has really come on with the group.
"I think most people are aware we're a very unique group around multiculturalism. I would say about a third of our group are Muslim and Mo's been a great leader of those young boys and how they prepare. Obviously he's seen it through his older brother in Adam at Carlton, how they prepare and what they need to do to take the next step in football."
Ibrahim Taha has also been outstanding for the Burgers, booting 62 from 19 games, including a haul of five in the preliminary final triumph over St Albans.
Key targets Taha, Omar Saad (four) and Ruairi Cleary (two) contributed to West Coburg's 11 goals against the Saints in ominous signs for Maribyrnong Park.
"Ibby's electrifying. He can play as a small, hit the ground and weave tackles and snap over his head, or he can leap. It's something pretty rare for a bloke who's about 5 foot 11... to be able to overhead mark and play at ground level," Barnes said.
Dinny Cleary, Tom Baravi, and Emilio Rinaudo have also been among West Coburg's standout performers.
The Lions prevailed by 24 points to earn a direct passage to the decider when the pair last met in the opening week of finals.
Barnes said the Lions used the ball better and took most of their opportunities in the 11.8 (74) to 5.20 (50) result.
"But I think we certainly showed that we're a side that can win the footy, and that's important. If you win the footy, you control the game," he said.
"We know they've got some really, really good foot skills and we know they hit the scoreboard well with their midfielders. They're a very, very good football side, but I think the second semi-final showed the teams are pretty close together."
West Coburg won the opening-round clash by 16 points, while Maribyrnong Park powered to a 79-point win in Round 17.
"We go in with great confidence," Barnes said.
West Coburg's most recent senior premiership came in Division One in 2014, while Maribyrnong Park claimed the 2010 Premier Division flag.
