It is generally accepted that you need to serve a finals apprenticeship before you can make a genuine tilt at the premiership.
Even the Western Bulldogs, who in many ways were one out of the box, played in a tight and tense elimination final the year before they tasted the ultimate success.
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For the last time, Rohan Connolly previews all the footy action ahead of round 15 in the AFL.
In September, the pressure is intense given the game becomes so much quicker and you have less time to use the footy.
There's also plenty of nerves in the build-up, particularly for young teams.
![On song: Clayton Oliver, James Harmes and Nathan Jones.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170630015813im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/e/n/e/8/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gx15y6.png/1498733238054.jpg)
But could this be the season when that finals experience doesn't count for as much as it once did?
Melbourne hasn't featured in September for more than a decade, but given the evenness of the competition there's no reason why they can't have a real impact.
Once upon a time a team that finished on top would make light work of a side that ended the home and away season in eighth, or even fifth.
While a true contender might emerge from the pack in the final rounds of this season, it seems, for now, the top teams don't have the same luxury they've had in years gone by.
Having said that, games like Friday night are crucial for a youthful outfit like the Demons.
We should learn a lot about Simon Goodwin's men when they come up against a team seemingly built for September.
The Swans have played finals in 13 of the past 14 seasons, and there's no doubt they have a game style that stacks up well at that time of year.
As it stands, John Longmire's men rank sixth in the competition for contested footy. The Demons, on the other hand, are second.
They boast a group who love getting in and under, which should bode well come the pointy end of the season.
Nathan Jones, Jack Viney and Clayton Oliver aren't afraid to get their hands dirty, and Jordan Lewis has been a big game performer for a number of years at Hawthorn.
While Oliver would probably want his time again after that incident involving West Coast defender Will Schofield, he has remarkable numbers for a teenager.
Oliver is third in the competition for contested ball. A bloke he's likely to spend time on Friday night, Josh Kennedy, is only just ahead in second.
The Friday night stage also poses its unique challenges for the Demons, given the scrutiny that comes with it.
Remarkably, Melbourne have played only once on Friday night in the last five years - a win over Richmond two years ago - and has a lamentable 2-7 record in the feature slot since the start of 2007.
They might not be favourites against the Swans, but now there's a certain level of expectation around the Demons and they haven't always handled that well.
Still, they continue to overcome many of the obstacles they've faced in recent years, whether it be ending their Etihad Stadium hoodoo or winning in Perth as they did last week against the Eagles.
Friday night's match against the Swans is another massive test, with these two sides one and two on the "form ladder" of the past six rounds.
Despite winning four games in a row and sitting just outside the top four, Goodwin will know a loss brings Melbourne right back to the pack.
Again, they face a real challenge in terms of personnel, with Jones on the sidelines alongside Jack Watts, Jeff Garlett and Jesse Hogan, who remains another week from returning.
But the Demons haven't used that as an excuse and now have real depth, with their middle-to-bottom tier capable of stepping up and playing their roles.
Sam Frost has shown impressive closing speed and dash out of defence, with Jayden Hunt also becoming an offensive weapon off half-back.
Mitch Hannan is underrated and clean with ball in hand, while Cam Pedersen has provided a certain marking power you might not have expected.
Tom Bugg might be a pest, but never shirks a contest, and that can be said about a number of players across the entire club.
We know what Jones, Lewis and Viney stand for. Added to that, the toughness of Oliver, Jake Melksham, Bernie Vince and even Dom Tyson. They all seem to relish the grunt work, which is crucial in September.
Against Sydney, their start will be paramount. As with most young sides, if you give them a sniff they will grow in confidence and become much tougher to shake.
That also rings true in finals, when teams which have "been there, done that" can often blow away their opposition early on.
While we don't yet know whether the Demons are ready for that challenge, tonight looms as another important step on their road back to the promised land.