It all comes down to this.
Eighteen rounds - plus three weeks of finals - will all culminate this Saturday when Leongatha faces off with Traralgon in the Gippsland League grand final.
These are two sides that are no strangers to the big stage. One the undisputed kings of the competition for the past few years while the other are looking to recapture the glory that has dominated their past.
On the one hand you have Leongatha.
Coming into 2024 as the two-time reigning premiers, the Parrots have enjoyed yet another successful campaign atop the ladder.
They've tasted defeat just three times - twice to Morwell and once to Moe - and are coming in hot as the favourites for many a punter.
Their veterans have shown few if any signs of slowing down but more than anything, it's been their ability to replenish and continue onwards that's been most admirable.
The Parrots side that took to the field for their second semi final drubbing of Moe featured seven players who weren't around for last year's grand final.
The names they've had to replace have hardly been minor ones either.
Players like Aaron Heppell and Aaron Hillburg, who contributed week in and week out through many a successful season, are hard players to live up to but with the current squad have simply gotten on with it.
At times the Parrots have been littered with injury problems and yet here they are, ready to contend in their eighth consecutive decider going back to 2015 (remember to exclude the COVID years).
Despite their struggles with contested footy this season where they rank ninth, they've ranked number one for tackles and three for clearances, showing they haven't been afraid to win the ball back when needed.
Players to watch:
It's got to be Tom Marriott, right? The Parrots' champion on-baller has found himself in some sparkling form, coming off a 26 disposal, two goal effort against Moe as he threatens to tear apart yet another big game.
Alongside Marriott is fellow seasoned campaigner Cade Maskell, whose steady hand across half back has come to to the fore after working through a mid-season injury.
A lot will also ride on the shoulders of their big forwards, namely the likes of Jenson Garnham. With Tye Hourigan and co. looking to intercept and go, he'll have to make sure they at least bring the ball to ground at all costs as well as hit the scoreboard.
In the other corner stands Traralgon.
The Maroons are featuring in their first grand final since 2015. They've been thereabouts on numerous occasions and perhaps stiff not to make one or two in that period but now they have a chance to set the record straight.
The club is no stranger to success, having won flags for fun up until the 2000s. Since then it's been a little more quiet.
Of course, some pundits may have been surprised to see them make it this far.
Following the departure of star forward Brett Eddy and coach Jake Best at the end of 2023, many had them sliding down the ladder or at the very least not being in contention.
To coach Troy Hamilton's credit that hasn't been the case at all. The Maroons have shared the load up forward this season, finishing the home and away rounds as the highest scoring side in the league.
That Dylan Loprese leads their goalkicking this year with 45 compared to Eddy's 68 last season says a lot about their selflessness.
Like the Parrots, the Maroons haven't necessarily thrived at the contest, instead ustilising a run and gun playstyle from their back half that has sliced up more than a few teams.
It won't come as a surprise to many that the Maroons are number two for intercept marks and, just as importantly, number one for disposal efficiency.
It means when they win the ball back they can use it to deadly effect, transitioning from defence to attack in a flash to leave their opponents' heads spinning.
Players to watch:
Much of Traralgon's offensive output comes from their back half and nobody is more reliable in that area than Tye Hourigan.
The Maroons' superstar interceptor has enjoyed yet another supreme year, marking at will at times and even putting in a few handy contributions when needed up forward.
If Hourigan can get his eye in early it'll go a long way to a Traralgon premiership.
Similarly important will be the Maroons' work through the middle.
Vice captain Luis D'Angelo looms large in that space, having averaged almost 26.7 disposals and 11.8 contested possessions this year.
Combined with Connor Ambler, who is coming off his own 23 disposals and seven clearances in the preliminary final, they'll have to work hard at the coalface, especially considering in their last meeting the Parrots destroyed them in clearances 55-31.
So who wins this one? If it's to be Traralgon, they're going to have to turn a few results on their head.
The Maroons have lost twice to the Parrots, first in a thriller five-point defeat early in the year, then by 34 later on.
Their best footy is good enough, but against a green and gold juggernaut they're going to have to do it for four quarters.
Traralgon are the third team in as many years to meet the Parrots in a Gippsland League grand final. Sale (2022) and Wonthaggi (2023) couldn't get the job done and now the Maroons step up to the plate.
Leongatha are the consummate professionals. They've been here before, some of them many a time.
For many eager onlookers it'll be theirs to lose. Let's see if Traralgon can prove them wrong.