If you've kept just half an eye on Australian rules in the Riverina these past few years, you'll know of Zac Williams, Jacob Hopper, Harry Perryman, Harry Himmelberg and Jeremy Finlayson.
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Each has his own individual tale - of trials, tribulations, tests and triumphs - on the path to an AFL Grand Final appearance. But they have one thing in common: all are from our part of the world, and their ticket to the big time is stamped GWS Giants.
In the beginning
Not long after Kevin Sheedy was made inaugural coach of Greater Western Sydney in 2009, he was in the Palace Hotel at Mortlake, near the Giants' residential base at Breakfast Point in Sydney.
A table of rugby league fans was there too. Only one recognised the legendary Essendon coach. When he told his mates who the punter in the bar was, not one cared.
Soon enough, Sheedy wandered over, asked them what they were drinking, bought a round of beers, and sat down and joined them.
The leaguies told him what they thought of Australian rules. Just quietly, it wasn't much. Sheeds didn't take offence. He took it in. If the Giants were to be here for the long haul, these were the people he had to win over.
But the shrewd operator who coached Essendon to four premierships (and played in three for Richmond) trusted there'd be light at the end of the tunnel. And no doubt knew some of it would shine from the Riverina.
"They probably picked the best bloke for the job, there," 1993 Essendon premiership player Chris Daniher says from Ungarie.
"He's eccentric, Kevin. He's out there. And he's a wonderful human being.
"He was the perfect bloke to send up there to get that club started, and helped set them up for where they are now. I definitely believe that.
"He's not stupid. This has been a great area to produce AFL footballers, the Riverina, and I think most people know that now. But he appreciates it. And we (the Danihers) obviously have a great affinity with Kevin with our history as a family."
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Giants arrive
The Giants were formed in 2008, and started playing in the AFL in 2012. In between, they set up camp in southern NSW, including the Riverina.
They'd bring AFL pre-season games to Wagga and Narrandera and reserves games in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL). But most of all, they brought investment and structure through academies and development programs.
They had to. They were trying to create an AFL club from scratch.
But where talented footballers might once have needed a heck of a lot to go their way, now there was a clear path, a club crying out for talent, and staff committed to getting them there.
"We love the people and the footy clubs in the region who really assist these boys' dreams and give them a great starting point," GWS Giants academy head coach, Jason Saddington said.
"We're the lucky ones who get to help the boys along. But the grassroots and community clubs are doing some outstanding work and we're very fortunate to have them in our backyard."
If you're asking if it's worked, let Christin Macri answer that:
"Well, we've got five boys playing on Saturday. So that's quite phenomenal," Macri said,
A premiership coach at Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong, Macri played AFL for the Western Bulldogs.
He's had significant involvement with the Giants from 2009 to 2014, in roles ranging from academy coaching and development, to bench coach for their NEAFL team.
He's had some coaching involvement with all five grand finalists, and is well placed to observe the progress since GWS, pointing out there are Giants graduates at other AFL clubs too, including Harry Cunningham, Dougal Howard and Jacob Townsend.
"There wasn't that many numbers going through before the academies. So it's just been sensational," Macri said.
"And guys like Zac (Williams) and Jeremy Finlayson, they were last picked on any lists and not really rated that highly. And look at what they do.
"They just needed time in a really high-quality environment. As much as we tried to provide it around here, we just weren't able to. Then they get into that environment and they prospered from there.
"It's tremendous."
Hearts and minds
A school teacher at Mater Dei Primary in Wagga, Macri has observed the off-field effect too.
"There are kids who are genuine Giants supporters now, there's a couple from school who are going to the game," he said.
"They're that excited. And without the Giants, that's not happening. So there's going to be a generation of supporters that they're getting now.
"I talk to kids telling them Harry Himmelberg went to school here. They just look at you. They sort of can't believe it.
"These kids come from this area. This is where they're coming from."
Originally from country Victoria, Macri says many in Melbourne misunderstand the sporting landscape in Wagga.
It might be an Aussie rules heartland compared to western Sydney. But the game is not in a league of its own here.
"Unless they're here, they don't understand it," Macri said.
"You go to a Victorian selection trial and there's 100 or 150 kids trying to get 30 spots. Here there are 40 kids trying to get 30 spots. So, the pure weight of numbers, we needed to do something to attract kids to the game and when they've got that choice of rugby league or footy staring them right in the face, that doesn't happen in Victoria."
The AFL's game development manager for Southern NSW, Marc Geppert, says it's impossible to overstate the impact of the Giants.
"It's been hugely beneficial for the region," Geppert said.
"Even before the local guys were starting to be successful, it was so important to have an elite AFL club that actually designated the Riverina as one of its home areas."
Like Macri, Geppert says the prevalence of Giants colours in schools and at Auskick clinics is phenomenal. And while the region had a good association with the Swans, in particular from the Paul Kelly era, the consistency of Giants' appearances is a game-changer.
"Any elite content for the region is fantastic. But to have the Giants is even better. If we were lucky enough to get a pre-season game next year, and even luckier to have the Giants, who knows, we might have the AFL premiership-winning team here in the pre-season," Geppert said.
"And it's pretty cool that we've got that many local guys playing at a club that has such a strong relationship with Wagga."
The connection
They're our boys, through and through, these famous five.
Williams shone in a best-on-ground performance for Narrandera in the 2012 Riverina League grand final.
Perryman almost did the same in 2014, as a Collingullie teenager in the epic comeback win against Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes, with a young Himmelberg on the beaten team. And he was there for the repeat in 2015.
In Leeton, Hopper was earmarked as an AFL prospect from a long way out, such was his determination and talent. Culcairn's Finlayson has overcome his share of injuries and doubts to take his place. And Himmelberg too took the long route via a year with Eastlake in Canberra and a mountain of hard work after a broken jaw at 17.
"All these guys, they've all been through our Auskick, through our school programs and they've all been at a local club. To have so much involvement with local footy and school footy, and then see them in an AFL grand final, it just makes you really proud," Geppert said.
There are no shortcuts to the AFL. But the Giants can deliver it for those with the right mix of dedication, ability and grit, and the ounce of luck that's often required.
Marrar's Shane Lenon has won nine senior premierships as a coach across the Farrer and Riverina Leagues. He lost some too, including one to a Zac Williams-inspired Narrandera. And one of his wins was with Perryman.
"I reckon he'd be the best decision-maker I've coached. Even at a young age he was a very good decision-maker and that's why he could play good first grade," Lenon said.
"He's tough, he plays with a lot of courage, and he goes about it the right way - he's worked really hard and he's playing good footy now, which doesn't surprise me. Now he's got an opportunity in a grand final at the highest level."
Lenon backs up Macri's point that the proof is in the pudding.
"Five locals playing on grand final day for the Giants? That tells you what they're doing is a positive, straight away," he said.
"But the second part is the young blokes that participate in these Giants programs. I'm all for it. Young blokes want to improve and develop. They've got dreams and ambitions to play at a higher level and, you might miss them at your club sometimes but the experience they're getting through training with the squads and playing Giants reserves - it's what they want to do. You've got to back them, and you get the benefit when they come back."
Among the Bombers key players this year were Giants players Drew Beavan, Adam Whyte and Rhys Mooney. Farrer League premiers North Wagga had Kane Flack on side.
The Riverina League grand final was almost decided by players who appeared in Giants colours, Wagga Tigers' stars Brendy Myers, Jackson Kelly and Shaun Driscoll. For Griffith, Lucas Conlan kicked five goals in a beaten team, and was brilliant at the back end of the season after his GWS commitments.
Saddington is ready to answer the DA's questions about the club's connection to the region. But first he's keen to find out more about both grand finals. He knows who won, who lost and who played well, but such is the interaction, he's keen to discuss it in detail.
He said 38 AFL players have come through the Giants academy, and two thirds of those are from the Riverina.
"It's a really important connection for the Giants as a football club and certainly as an academy, working with young kids in the region to try and develop them to achieve their dreams as AFL footballers," Saddington said.
"Which we can see with obviously five of the boys playing on the weekend. But on a broader view, the Giants certainly feel like southern NSW is a big part of them. I know it's a traditional football area and I'm sure lots of people in the region have more traditional followings of football clubs.
"But I think one great thing about the Giants is hopefully we can be that club that everyone can get on board with and feel a part of as well, especially this weekend with those five boys playing in a grand final.
"It doesn't matter if you're from Collingullie or Mangoplah, Leeton, Culcairn or Narrandera, you're probably going to be Giants this weekend, which is brilliant."
The final word
Chris Daniher is. He knows Richmond will be favourites, but believes GWS have matured, tightened up their defence, and he hopes to be cheering them home.
"I still live here and I just want to see as many kids as we can go on and play AFL footy and live the dream," Daniher said.
"And these boys are going to live that dream. There's not a higher thing you can do than run out on the MCG in front of a hundred thousand on grand final day, and play for your family, friends and club.
"I think they're the underdogs but if they can pull off a win, what it would do for football in NSW and western Sydney, it would give it a huge boost.
"That's why I'll be barracking for GWS, for sure."