Collingwood has produced a remarkable two seasons under Craig McRae.
The Magpies won the 2023 premiership in McRae’s second season at the helm, capping off a superb start to his life as a senior coach.
His team played a fast and chaotic brand, in a similar fashion to the Richmond teams that won three premierships under Damien Hardwick when McRae was assistant coach.
So it is no stretch to suggest that something similar could happen for GWS, who are coached by another Hardwick protege in Adam Kingsley who was with the Tigers for the 2019 and 2020 flags.
The similarities between the two clubs over the past few years are stark.
Collingwood in 2022 - First year under Craig McRae
In 2022, the first season under McRae, the Magpies were sitting in 11th spot with a 4-5 record after Round 9.
Collingwood would finish the home and away season in fourth position (16 wins) after finishing 17th (six wins) under long-term coach Nathan Buckley and his caretaker Robert Harvey in 2021.
They would then lose the Preliminary Final by a solitary point.
GWS in 2023 - First year under Adam Kingsley
In 2023, the first season under Kingsley, the Giants were sitting in 15th spot with a 3-7 record after Round 10.
GWS would finish the home and away season in seventh position (13 wins) after finishing 16th (six wins) under long-term coach Leon Cameron and caretaker Mark McVeigh in 2022.
They would then lose the Preliminary Final (to the Pies) by a solitary point.
Collingwood in 2023 - Second year under Craig McRae
The Magpies finished the regular season as minor premiers (18 wins). They won three finals including the Grand Final.
GWS in 2024 - Second year under Adam Kingsley
Who knows?
There have been other comparisons drawn between the Pies and Giants in recent seasons.
In the past six years, the Pies have been runners-up, beaten in the Preliminary Final twice, and the Semi Finals once. (Plus a premiership).
In the past six years, the Giants have been runners-up, beaten in the Preliminary Final once, and the Semi Finals twice.
Both club captains - Darcy Moore and Toby Greene - are Oakleigh Chargers alumni and have multiple All-Australian blazers.
In 2023, McRae managed to mastermind a Grand Final win over Brisbane, the club he won three premierships with as a player.
In 2023, Kingsley was able to lead the Giants to a Semi Final victory over Port Adelaide, the club he won a premiership with as a player.
They both took their team from the bottom three to the prelim in their first year.
Now it’s up to the Giants to follow the eerily similar path.