Legacies are defined by what teams and players achieve, or fail to achieve, in September.

The stakes are higher. Every effort is amplified. Every mistake is compounded. Every victory is glorified. Losses are rarely forgiven.

With the first week of finals upon us, let's take a look at some of the most memorable matches this corresponding point of the season has blessed footy fans with in recent memory.

The eight best first-week finals of the last decade:

2GWS Giants v Sydney Swans, 2024 Qualifying Final

The two Sydney sides have met in four finals, and the most recent encounter was the best of the bunch. The qualifying final of 2024 marks the first time "big brother" has triumphed in a final, with the stellar final quarter performances of the Swans' "big three" midfielders being a major reason why.

Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Errol Gulden capped off exquisite, All-Australian campaigns with starring roles in the famous comeback.

In the final quarter alone, Warner posted 13 disposals, which included five score involvements and seven clearances, and 356 metres gained. To boot, Gulden had 11 touches, at 90 per cent efficiency, three inside-50s, and five score involvements of his own in the last.

Under significant opposition attention, Heeney posted just three of his 30 disposals for the match in the last quarter, but a brilliant goal from inside the centre square knotted the scores, before Joel Amartey sealed the comeback victory two minutes later.

The minor premiers scored 7.4 in the last term, winning the quarter 40-13 to storm home, learning the lessons of the eliminator a few seasons prior.

Luke Darcy's strained call of Heeney's third major will withstand the test of time, as will Heeney's incredible hanger, early in the contest.

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