Graham Wright is one of the very few people to have been at both Collingwood and Carlton.
But after a brief stint at the Blues, could the Ikon Park club be classified as the superior organisation in terms of size?
Wright said Carlton is a "sleeping giant", and the lack of success, reflected by a 31-year premiership drought, is largely the cause.
It's the size. Yeah, I think I always knew that Collingwood and Carlton were the two biggest, obviously, but I think you know Carlton are nearly a sleeping giant," he said on SEN ahead of Carlton's elimination final against Geelong.
"They're starting to wake up. They are, and our members and supporters have been here in the games over the last few weeks, and their support for us and the enthusiasm, but also they're just so loud.
"So just the size, I think, overall. I mean we're bigger than Collingwood potentially. I wouldn't say we are now, but that down the track we could be. But I mean that comes with success and winning. And as we said, 31 years without a flag, so we'd be aiming at that.
"But what we'd like to do is build a consistent top four finisher. And my view has always been: you put yourself in that position, then you're a chance."
Carlton has turned around a disastrous season, parting ways with Michael Voss in May with an 1-8 record, and bringing in Josh Fraser as a caretaker.
A superb tenure under Fraser led the Blues to a surprise Wildcard Round slot, and a subsequent elimination final against Geelong after dismantling Melbourne.
Over the years, the Pies have remained in contention for the better part of two decades, which is in stark contrast to their arch rivals.
Under Wright, Collingwood welcomed Craig McRae as Nathan Buckley's successor, who led the club to four out of five finals series, including a premiership in 2023, as well as a pair of preliminary finals.
Are the Blues on the same path with Fraser?
