It was the game that dashing Tiger Liam Baker described as one he'll remember "forever".
"The roars when we were streaming forward were incredible. It's gotta be the best day [of my career], but hopefully we go all right this week," he told ESPN of Richmond's 19-point preliminary final win over Geelong.
The 20-year-old was beaming from ear to ear following his second career finals win and first prelim success. He wasn't at Tigerland in 2017 when Richmond stormed to a 48-point victory over Adelaide, so Grand Final week is going to be a new experience for him.
He isn't alone, either. Richmond may gearing up for a second crack at the flag in three years, but Baker is yet to taste the ultimate success. Neither has star forward Tom Lynch, ruckman Ivan Soldo and a handful of other Tigers who'll potentially line up in the side that runs out on Saturday.
Baker told ESPN while the dream of walking away from the Yarra Park on Saturday night with a weighty premiership medallion around his neck was enticing, and obviously the ultimate goal, it will be a team-first attitude and not his personal ambitions which will get the Tigers over the line.
"Some the boys have had that taste of [success] back in 2017," he said. "But there are a lot of new faces as well, and we want a bit of that success, so as a group we're going to give our all."
Baker said the hunger for another flag isn't unique to those at the club who weren't a part of the 2017 group. There's a distinct feeling of unfinished business following last year's heartbreaking loss in the preliminary final to Collingwood.
"I'm absolutely hungry, but so are the boys, especially with last year, having such a strong year and not making the Grand Final," he said.
One thing Baker expects to be able to lean on heading into the biggest week of his life is the fact the majority of his teammates have experienced the build-up before - and recently.
He said he would approach some of the more senior figures at the club for a bit of advice about how to handle the week -- the training, media commitments and, of course, the Grand Final parade -- but suspects he knows the response he'll get.
"I don't know what they'll tell me, probably that it's exactly the same as any other week. There's just the Grand Final parade and a bit of media, that's about it," he laughed.
"They'll tell me to stick to what I need to do and we will do that as a team and hopefully it gets us out of there on top ... that you don't have to put the hero pants on and win the game yourself."
One player who was part of the Tigers' successful 2017 campaign is Kane Lambert. Typically circumspect when considering the week ahead, he told ESPN after the preliminary final win he's "very proud" and "grateful" to have another shot at a flag.
"Everything we do in this game is means to an end, and the end is typically that Grand Final, but the great thing about this football club is we enjoy every moment. We'll soak up the [prelim win] and prepare for this week," he said.
Coming up against a team which on Saturday won its way into a first Grand Final berth in the club's history, Lambert said the Tigers who were a part of the 2017 campaign may have an edge over a GWS side which features just three grand finalists - Matt de Boer (Fremantle, 2013), Shane Mumford (Sydney, 2012) and Heath Shaw (Collingwood, 2010).
"I guess I am [better prepared for Grand Final week]. Once you have had the experience once you sort of know what to expect which is good," Lambert told ESPN.
"But for the boys who haven't been through this week before you just have to take it as it comes. It's an experience. You can't really shy away from it - obviously there's going to be a lot of publicity around the footy club and you can't really hide from it. I'd say you've just got soak it in and enjoy it for what it is."
And did he have any advice for the like of Baker et al., who'll be running out in front of 100,000 people on Saturday afternoon?
"Nothing changes really. It's still a game on grass with eight goal posts," he said with a hint of dry humour.
"Yes, it's a big occasion and it's the only game on this week, but they've just got to enjoy it, live every moment for what it is and at the end of the day we've got 44 teammates [across the club] we can lean on."