WHEN the Geelong players run onto the Gabba in Brisbane this evening, it'll be a cause for celebration for thousands of Cats fans around the country.
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But in Ballarat, at least one family will be praying for a Cats win perhaps a bit more than others.
Wendouree MP Juliana Addison's father Les Dickinson is as big a Geelong supporter as you are likely to find, passing on his love of the Cats to his children and grandchildren.
But 2020 has rocked the family like no other, with the 30-year veteran Bridge Mall pharmacist - the man who pioneered 9am-9pm in this city - being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.
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Eight months ago, Mr Dickinson, now 78, was told he had between just nine and 24 months to live which means there's every possibility that tonight's grand final between his beloved Cats and Richmond could be the last he ever sees.
"We've already spent eight months since the diagnosis and I've been quite fortunate to this point, I haven't even taken a Panadol," Mr Dickinson said.
"I'm not afraid, I'm 78-and-a-half, my kids have grown up, so to me it's not a tragedy, but it's nothing like you would see on television - you get told and it's not negotiable. For me, it's been a case of, you tell me what to do and I'll do it."
Ms Addison, who will spend the evening with her dad, mum Trudie, and brother Eugene who will travel from Geelong, said it would be a special occasion for the family.
"It's so exciting that we can be here again," Ms Addison said. "I was born in 1974 and we had to wait all the way up until 2007, and that day was just so special for our family.
"But when we got dad's diagnosis back in January, we thought 'wouldn't it be amazing if we could get one more premiership?'
Mr Dickinson said he was 50-50 in his thoughts on the match, but his daughter is much more confident.
"We'd planned all year to go to a lot of games as a family, we were going to go to as many home games this year, but COVID changed everything," Ms Addison said.
"Obviously there's so much sentiment in this match, being Gary's (Ablett) last game, the determination of (Patrick) Dangerfield. Richmond already have a couple, we want it so badly this time."
The family made the most of the warm Friday public holiday in the city, visiting the Ballarat Wildlife Park, paying very close attention to tiger Satu who put on a show for his visitors.
Interestingly when Satu was offered two boxes of food, one with a Tigers logo, the other with the Cats logo, he went straight for the Cats. Is it a sign? Time will tell.
