It’s a matter of fact that in the five finals meetings between Brisbane and Carlton since 1995, neither ‘home’ team has ever lost. As it stands, the Lions hold sway with three wins at the Gabba, the Blues with two at the MCG.

Carlton opened proceedings in their all-conquering 1995 premiership season with a 13-point victory over the Robert Walls-coached Lions in the qualifying final – after coach David Parkin threw Anthony Koutoufides forward with dramatic effect.

The Lions’ subsequent finals victories over Carlton - the 1996 semi (a thumping 97 points); the 1999 qualifier (an equally resounding 73) and the 2009 eliminator (just seven), were broken only by the Blues’ last semi final victory – an 82-point hammering in season 2000.

On that occasion Aaron Hamill (now Carlton’s assistant coach) booted a career-high seven goals in his 91st and penultimate Carlton game before crossing to St Kilda, and Brendan Fevola four. Regrettably, Stephen Silvagni’s season was cruelly ended by way of a severely torn hamstring.

The Blues’ cause was made somewhat easier with the unavailability of Luke Power (now the Carlton Reserves coach) and Daniel Bradshaw, both of whom had put 50 over the goal umpire’s hat for Brisbane that season.

Bradshaw withdrew from the contest to support his wife at the birth of their child.

Of course, Michael Voss was representing the Lions in the five previous finals between these two teams: four times as a player, and then as Brisbane's coach in 2009. For the first time in Saturday, he'll find himself on the Navy Blue side.