East Perth has not won a WAFL league premiership side the last of its three-peat in 2002 and has the bitter taste of defeat left over from last year's loss to West Perth.
Subiaco has played seven grand finals since '02, winning four.
The Lions have won two of three contests between these sides this season, yet the Royals will start favourites at Patersons Stadium on Sunday.
The bottom line:
Despite losing those two games to the Subiaco during the season, since the half-way mark of the season, East Perth was the best side (of those who made the four - think Claremont).
Having a dozen West Coast Eagles in their side also gives them an extra advantage.
Take a look at the stats below. The Royals share the load a lot more than the Lions do.
So for Subiaco to win this Grand Final, all of its top half-dozen players need to fire; with no exception. And even then that may not be enough.
The Royals also have that burning hole left in them from last season.
As captain Craig Wulff says: "It takes 200 games to get there and you lose at the end of it is devastating.
"It's a part of the reason why I am playing this year and we have a squad keen to rewrite a wrong and we'll be doing everything we can to recitfy it.
"It's holy grail, it's impossible not to think about it.
"As soon as the siren went last year you begin to think about what it takes to get back to that spot again."
That's good enough for me.
What the coaches say:
East Perth's Brian Dawson:
"Players have taken a lot from last year. For many of them it was their first time in a grand final. We have taken a lot out of the day and the preparation. It;'s different this year because of the second week off.
"It gives you more time to settle and be more slightly better prepared. We'll take it either way to get to the grand final though."
Subiaco's Jarrad Schofield:
"We have come from a long way back in 12 months and have worked hard to get to where we are now. We're excited as a footy club.
"We wanted to improve and redeem ourselves against East Fremantle (after losing the second semi-final).
"We improved by kicking more goals and in other areas and we're not content.
"We're not happy being there, now we have given ourselves a chance... we want to win it."
Tip: East Perth by 29 points after a tight two and a half quarters.
Here's are some of the key players who can determine the outcome of today's clash.
The goal kickers:
East Perth's top 5 this year
39 - Josh Smith
25 - Fraser McInnes
20 - Callum Sinclair
18 - Craig Wulff
18 - Josh Hill
18 - Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls
Subiaco's top 5 this year
53 - Matthew Boland
39 - Shane Yarran
34 - George Hampson
33 - Rhys Waters
28 - Chris Deluca
The Royal ruck (hit outs)
487 - Paul Johnson
322 - Callum Sinclair
115 - Scott Lycett
48 - Fraser McInnes
The Lion's ruck division (hit outs)
404 - Frank Stockley
190 - Andrew McDougall
105 - Lachlan Delahunty
69 - Clancy Wheeler
Disposals
East Perth
526 - Steve Payne
471 - Craig Wulff
419 - Freddie Clutterbuck
402 - Nathan Blee
395 - Brendan Lee
Subiaco
489 - Jason Bristow
473 - Kyal Horsley
445 - Chris Phelan
385 - Shaun Hildebrandt
373 - Wayde Twomey
Average disposals
East Perth
26 - Sam Butler
26 - Brendan Lee
25 - Steven Payne
25 - Craig Wulff
24 - Mark Hutchings
Subiaco
26 - Kyal Horsley
22 - Jason Bristow
21 - Chris Phelan
21 - Wayde Twomey
20 - Shaun Hildebrandt
Marking
East Perth
116 - Fraser McInnes
114 - Steven Payne
111 - Josh Smith
110 - Freedi Clutterbuck
109 - Callum Sinclair
Subiaco
88 - George Hampson
87 - Shaun Hildebrandt
84 - Lachlan Delahunty
84 - Matthew Boland
75 - Wayde Twomey
AAMI WAFL Grand Final
Sunday, September 21
East Perth v Subiaco - 2.15pm Patersons Stadium
Last Meeting - 2nd Semi Final, 2014 at Medibank Stadium
East Perth 13.12 (90) def Subiaco 7.16 (58
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