Josh Dunkley, the only man to play in multiple AFL premierships with teams that saluted from outside the top four, says there's a simple key to doing so.
In a word - belief.
Dunkley was part of the Western Bulldogs' famous 2016 triumph from seventh on the ladder and played a key role in the Brisbane Lions' rise from fifth this year.
Brisbane's success came despite a horror first half of the season, when they fell to 4-6-1 and lost five players to serious knee injuries.
A nine-match winning streak turned the campaign around and the Lions won 14 of 16 games on their march to the flag, including four cut-throat finals.
"It was a club motto - believe - and we built that from the midway point of the year," Dunkley said.
"We knew we were good enough, we just weren't putting our best out there.
"We just needed to keep ticking away at the little things and throughout the finals you would've seen that belief.
"It's gone a long way to helping us win."
Dunkley and assistant coach Dale Morris - teammates at the Bulldogs for four seasons - were able to pass on valuable advice to Lions players as their season took familiar turns to the Dogs' 2016 campaign.
"Little moments that happened in '16 were very relevant to what was happening this year," Dunkley said.
"It just felt the same. We were playing against great sides but just managing to find a way.
"They're the moments that you really treasure and you keep celebrating."
Dunkley said the Lions' premiership success justified his move north after winning the Bulldogs' 2022 best-and-fairest.
He played a key role in the grand final, blunting Sydney superstar Isaac Heeney, who battled a leg injury and managed just 14 disposals.
"He's an incredible player, Isaac," Dunkley said.
"I look up to him and I've said it to him a number of times but it's just great to get the win.
"We talk about giving yourself to the team - that's a little phrase we use - and that was my 'giving yourself to the team' today.
"I had to do that job and to shut him down was nice.
"He did kick a goal but I'm blaming the backs for that one - it wasn't my fault."
Dunkley revealed another former Bulldogs teammate, Adam Treloar, had tipped a big Brisbane win in the grand final, but didn't think it was possible.
What he does think is possible now is an extended period of success for a talent-stacked Lions side.
"If you think about the injuries that we've got and the players that have been in and out of our side ... I'm a big believer that this will set us up for the future," Dunkley said.
