Though the grand final is back on its standard stage after a 1093-day delay, the visible relief and palpable excitement sit below that of overwhelming heartbreak on the podium of emotion.
While the Cats and Bloods have been lauded for their respective cultures across the decades leading to today, as we were reminded collectively this week, winning games often provides more lacquer than is warranted
Yet, with a 125-year wait behind the competition's models of consistency, Geelong and Sydney will do battle today in a clash with consequence, just far less dire than often promoted.
Not since 2009 have two grand final combatants entered the MCG on the final Saturday in September along such a blazing trail. Having strung together streaks standing at 14 wins and 9 respectively, Geelong and Sydney are doubtlessly the form sides of the competition.
14 of the past campaigns have been stamped with the pair's presence, and combined, the side from the Pivot City and their Harbourside rivals have featured in 11 deciders, with five flags between them.
Still, yesterday is gone, and the present is the focus.
As the bookies take bets, the record sellers spruik and fans from all over the nation roll up or tune, one question remains paramount at present - just who is going to reign supreme on the season's final day?
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Both Geelong (20 wins, 4 losses) and Sydney (18-6) have cobbled together spectacular seasons, however, without meeting since Round 2, a genuine form guide is tough to come by.
Sure, the Swans passed the post first that Friday night in late March, but with their five-goal win looking far more Lollapolooza than listed fixture, little can be garnered now six months removed.
Both sides will be seeking to employ differing styles on the game's biggest stage, with Geelong content to play a loose defender, a sagging ruckman and place more pep on the ball.
On the other hand, Sydney will seek to dominate stoppages, ripping the ball clear and sending their lion's share of forward 50 entries through Lance Franklin.
Sam Reid's absence will be felt by John Longmire's offensive unit, still, as his replacement, Hayden McLean, producing a seasonal mean of 1.25 goals per game, as well as five in his last two outings against Geelong, a suitable understudy appears to have been found.
At the other end of the ground, the Cats' altruistic twin pillars inย Tom Hawkinsย (64 goals and 27 assists) andย Jeremy Cameronย (63 and 27) have proven as happy dishing off as they have to split the sticks themselves.
Aided by the able skillsets ofย Bradley Close,ย Gary Rohan,ย Gryan Miersย and the comeback kidย Tyson Stengle, the side from Sleepy Hollow has more routes to goal than there are roads to Rome.
Down back, Geelong's defensive unit, led by four-time All-Australian Tom Stewart, has leaked a measily average of just 67-points per week this season.
Across the course of their four defeats this season, Chris Scott's clowder coughed up a median of 89.5 points. So, should the Swans breach 90 points, their odds of marching onwards to victory are sure to improve.
Both Scott and his counterpart, John Longmire, commenced their coaching careers in 2011, with the former tasting the ultimate success in his debut season. 12 months later, the man known affectionately as 'Horse' supped from his own cup.
Yet, now a decade removed from Sydney's swansong over the Hawks, both sides are still waiting to mount the dais again.
With champions across every line and a litany of the league's strongest role players, contests right across the ground will be must-watch.
As each side's strengths lie away from the other, the victor will be the one that covers their workload and thwarts their rival's.
Grand finals are often decided by moments in battle that are replayed ad nauseam across the decades to come.
So, sit back and enjoy as the most complete clubs go toe-to-toe for their first ever decider.
Will we see thunder shaken from the sky? Or will the side always on the ball prove, once again, to be greatest of them all?
We'll know all by the time the sun sets over the first decider in Melbourne in what has felt like an aeon.
