And in the modern era, particularly, we've been blessed. Perhaps that's a consequence of two preliminary finals rather than just one over the past couple of decades, but the vast majority of my favourites are still fresh in most football tragic's memories.

There's been incredible comebacks, desperately close finishes and individual heroics. Indeed, for a while there in the 1990s, preliminary finals consistently proved better games than those which decided the premiership a week later.

So sit back, reminisce, argue the toss and re-live my top 10 preliminary finals of all time.

1. 1994 preliminary final, MCG: Geelong 16.13 (109) d North Melbourne 14.19 (103)

Not only the best preliminary final, but the single greatest game of football I've witnessed. A see-sawing end-to-end battle saw the Roos dominate early but miss crucial chances. Geelong then slammed on seven unanswered goals. North skipper Wayne Carey, in one of the great finals performances, booted six. Scores were level and extra-time loomed until a hurried snap from Leigh Tudor floated over the head of despairing Roo full-back Mick Martyn into the hands of Gary Ablett in the goal square. The siren rang as he walked back to kick from point blank range, the Cats triumphant, North Melbourne hearts broken.

Tim McGrath celebrates the after-the-siren goal by Gary Ablett while North Melbourne's Wayne Carey looks on. Photo: Jim Hooper

2. 1999 preliminary final, MCG: Carlton 16.8 (104) d Essendon 14.19 (103)

One of football's greatest triumphs of the underdog. The Blues were rank outsiders against the accomplished Dons, but led by four goals at half-time. Seven goals in the third term put the hot favourite back on top. But Anthony Koutoufides produced one of the great finals quarters for the Blues. Essendon still had chances to win, Mark Mercuri missing a hurried snap. Then, with one point the difference, Bomber Dean Wallis, rather than pump the ball into the teeth of goal, elected to take on Carlton's Fraser Brown. He was nailed in a brilliant tackle, the ball turned over, and the Blues hung on for a famous win.

Carlton players celebrate after the final siren in their 1999 preliminary final win over Essendon. Photo: Getty Images

3. 1993 preliminary final, MCG: Essendon 17.9 (111) d Adelaide 14.16 (100)

One of the great finals comebacks. Essendon's "Baby Bombers" appeared completely overawed as the Crows, with six goals from Tony Modra and a great roving display by Tony McGuinness, surged to a 42-point half-time lead. But the Dons found something, kicking six goals to one in the third term. With Darren Bewick booting five goals in the second half and six in total and Gary O'Donnell a star, Essendon hit the front midway through the last. It was veteran Tim Watson who clinched victory, chasing his own wayward kick and snapping from 40 metres out. The Bombers would go on to beat Carlton for the flag.

4. 1973 preliminary final, MCG: Richmond 15.15 (105) d Collingwood 14.14 (98)

Richmond skipper Royce Hart was on one leg, and started on the reserves bench to be used only in an emergency. But the Tigers had one by half-time when they trailed by six goals. Hart sparked his team with two big goals, Richmond whittling the deficit back to eight points at the last change and hitting the front for the first time 19 minutes into the last quarter. A late goal to Collingwood's Alan Atkinson made the difference just one point to Richmond. But Tiger champion Kevin Bartlett snapped a freakish goal to seal the deal, the siren sounding seconds after the next centre bounce.

Richmond's Royce Hart kicks for goal.

5. 1987 preliminary final, VFL Park: Hawthorn 11.14 (80) d Melbourne 10.18 (78)

Gary Buckenara's post-siren goal to win the game after young Irishman Jim Stynes ran across the mark to concede a 15-metre penalty is a famous moment. But this was a terrific game anyway, the Demons looking like winners but unable to put the Hawks away, missing a series of sitters, Graeme Yeats, Simon Eishold and Tony Campbell the main culprits. They still led by more than a goal with only a couple of minutes to play, but Buckenara made it less than a kick, then got on the end of a swift kick-in transition, Stynes's transgression making a difficult shot gettable for the WA sharp-shooter.

Jim Stynes and Melbourne coach John Northey after losing the 1987 preliminary final.

6. 1996 preliminary final, SCG: Sydney 10.10 (70) d Essendon 10.9 (69)

Essendon jumped to a 19-point quarter-time lead, only for the Swans to hit back with five goals to none in the second term. The Bombers clawed their way back, however, and Michael Symons' checkside put the Dons two goals up with only four minutes left. But Sydney weren't done with. Dale Lewis goaled, then Daryn Cresswell wobbled one through to level the scores. With 20 seconds remaining, young Swan Wade Chapman found Tony Lockett on a lead. By the time "Plugger" kicked, the siren had gone, any score good enough. And from 55 metres, Lockett kicked the most valuable behind of his career.

The Swans celebrate Tony Lockett's winning point. Photo: Craig Golding

7. 2011 preliminary final, MCG: Collingwood 10.8 (68) d Hawthorn 9.11 (65)

The Hawks dominated early, Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis starring, and led by 17 points at the last change, the Pies having managed only five goals. Chris Dawes and Leon Davis set the ball rolling, and a huge mark and goal by Travis Cloke at the 19-minute mark put Collingwood in front. Lance Franklin, with four minutes left, dribbled through an amazing goal from the boundary line, the Hawks momentarily regaining the lead. But a snap from the Pies' Luke Ball put them in front again, and a desperate tackle by Dale Thomas on Cyril Rioli in the last minute was the final nail.

8. 2007 preliminary final, MCG: Geelong 13.14 (92) d Collingwood 13.9 (87)

Geelong had enjoyed a week off and was unbackable flag favourite, Collingwood had won an extra-time semi-final in Perth. But the Cats could never break clear of the gritty Pies, leading by only five points at the last change. Steve Johnson and Paul Chapman gave the Cats breathing space, but Collingwood hit back, Travis Cloke and Alan Didak pulling it back to five points. A superb bit of crumbing and a snap by Gary Ablett appeared to seal it, but still the Pies came, Paul Medhurst goaling from a free kick with a minute left and the ball in Collingwood's forward 50 when the siren ended a classic.

9. 1997 preliminary final, MCG: Adelaide 12.21 (93) d Western Bulldogs 13.13 (91)

A fairytale grand final between Cinderella clubs St Kilda and the Bulldogs loomed nearly all this match, Adelaide off-target, losing spearhead Tony Modra, and behind by more than five goals at half-time. But in a role reversal, it was the Dogs who kept missing in the end, just six behinds for the final term, one a controversial shot from Tony Liberatore which the Dogs insist to this day was a goal. Darren Jarman, replacing Modra in the square, took charge, putting his side in front with under two minutes to play, Chris Grant and Paul Hudson combining to fluff one last chance for the Dogs.

10. 1962 preliminary final, MCG: Carlton 12.13 (85) drew with Geelong 13.7 (85)

Geelong were without star full-forward Doug Wade and ruckman Graham "Polly" Farmer, but the Cats started well and led by 18 points at half-time. Carlton hit back in the third term and a goal to Tom Carroll early in the last gave the Blues the lead. Geelong found another gear and led by 12 points entering time-on. But Maurie Sankey's reply gave Carlton hope, and from 40 yards out, Carroll levelled the scores, John James missing a chance to win it for Carlton with the last kick of the day. It was the first preliminary final draw, the Blues winning an equally dramatic replay by just five points.

Carlton coach Ken Hands (fourth from left) cheers from the bench as Carlton defeat Geelong in the 1962 replay.