The Blues are chasing this recognition, with McKay declaring this an important plank.

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Coleman medallists McKay and Charlie Curnow will be an imposing double act, although Ed Curnow, the now retired Blue, said during Thursday’s match simulation against Geelong that they remain a work in progress in terms of understanding when one should push up the ground, and the other remain a deep option.

Blues great Anthony Koutoufides believes the Blues have the arsenal to meet Voss’ aim.

“I do, but I don’t want to put any pressure on them,” Koutoufides said, the 1995 premiership star opting to not tip how many wins the Blues should have.

For a home-and-away campaign to be considered great, history shows 17 or 18 wins are needed, as Geelong of 2022 and Richmond of 2018 achieved.

“Obviously, history says statistically the top four is the best way to finish, but teams have done it [won premiership] outside the top four as well. I believe it’s all about momentum towards the end of the year. As long as you are in the finals, top four gives you every opportunity,” Koutoufides said.

Skipper Patrick Cripps said the Blues understood what was needed for success.

“One thing as a playing group that we’re really clear on are our roles and what our style is. We go into the year not guessing what it is, we know. It gives you a lot of confidence and belief that your best can stack up,” he said.

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However, there will be obstacles, on and off the field. There always is. And dealing with these will be a major test. Should the Blues pass these, then September will be a smoother path.

“There are always ups and down through a campaign, that’s why if you nail it back to a couple of things you can focus on, being the best teammate and trying to be the best version of yourselves, that body of work holds you in good stead,” McKay said.

Off the field

Blues president Luke Sayers has espoused stability, and by signing doyen chief executive Brian Cook to a two-year extension, that’s a major plank in place. If anyone knows how to navigate the off-field pitfalls, it’s Cook – as he did when publicly backing Voss early last year when Blues struggled to get moving.

Koutoufides said a unified executive in the early to mid-1990s under then president John Elliott was pivotal in the Blues success, and he sees that repeated now. Cripps says the Blues are unified in “chasing excellence” of their own.

The benefits

One of the bonuses of a “great” home-and-away campaign is that it can allow key players with niggles to be rested through August. That can be missing a game, or reduced game time.

A fresh Cripps, Charlie Curnow and Sam Walsh, the latter already dealing with a back issue, could be the difference between silverware, or lamenting what might have been.

“If you can keep all of your [best] players on the field come finals time, you never know what can happen,” Koutoufides said.

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No guarantees

However, a great home-and-away campaign does not always equate to a premiership.

“I know us in ’93 and ‘94, we fell over in the grand final in ’93. I didn’t play – I was an emergency that day. In ’94, we were on top of the ladder one week to go, then we lost to Essendon. We lost our first two finals then we were out. It’s all about momentum,” Koutoufides said.

Through the past decade, Geelong were a great regular-season side, capped in 2022 with 18 wins and top spot on the way to a second flag under Chris Scott. However, they finished top in 2019, fourth in 2020 and third in 2021, yet went home through September wondering what had gone wrong.

The Tigers finished two games clear on top of the ladder in 2018, but fell in a preliminary final. St Kilda of 2008-10, Adelaide of 2005-06, Port Adelaide of 2001-03 before the premiership of 2004, the Western Bulldogs of 1997-99, Geelong under Malcolm Blight and Gary Ayres, and even Tom Hafey’s Swans of 1986-87 failed after dominant home-and-away campaigns. The Western Bulldogs’ glorious run from seventh in 2016, now there’s a pre-finals bye, showed it can simply be about getting hot at the business end of the season.

What now for the Blues?

They had a 17-point loss in Thursday night’s match simulation, the focus turning to Wednesday’s community cup clash at Ikon Park. A tough season opener awaits with a preliminary final rematch in Brisbane against the Lions, before facing four opponents – Richmond (MCG), North Melbourne (Marvel Stadium), Fremantle (Adelaide Oval) and Adelaide (Marvel Stadium) – who missed the finals last season.

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