Cat of nine prelims: Can Selwood square the ledger in a record 10th?

A win would also break a run of four consecutive preliminary final losses by Geelong since 2011 with Mark Blicavs and Patrick Dangerfield, who are both entering their fifth preliminary, yet to play in a grand final.

The Lions contain former Cat Lincoln McCarthy, who played next to Selwood in the 2016 preliminary final, and former Hawk Grant Birchall and ex-Crow Charlie Cameron who have also been Selwood's opponents in preliminary finals.

Premiership teammate James Podsiadly, who played in preliminary finals with the skipper in 2010 and 2011, says Selwood - who enters his 33rd final with only Michael Tuck and Shaun Burgoyne having played more - attacks every game as though it is a big game.

"Whether we were playing a lesser team down at Geelong or Hawthorn in a prelim it didn't really matter, 'Sells' just attacked it and he was uncompromising either way," Podsiadly said.

"He is unconditional whether it is a big game, a final, round one or whatever it is he just goes best he can every game.

"His ability to connect with people outside the team and football ... he is just a true captain on the field and he is even better off it."

Selwood's preliminary finals

2007: Geelong 13.14 (92) defeated Collingwood 13.9 (87)
Stats: 15 disposals, six contested possessions, one clearance, one score assist, four score involvements, three tackles.
He played a minor role in just his 20th game with just 56 per cent game time and no involvement in the final five minutes when game in balance. Having inspired his experienced teammates throughout the season they do the job against the Magpies with Selwood riding shotgun collecting 15 touches.

2008: Geelong 12.11 (83) defeated Western Bulldogs 7.12 (54)
Stats: 24 disposals, 10 contested possessions, four clearances, no score assists, six score involvements, three tackles.
Not yet 21, he collected 24 touches entering his second consecutive grand final having played in 41 wins in his first 44 games. In just his second season the man who walks on his toes led the competition in free kicks.

2009: Geelong 17.18 (120) defeated Collingwood 6.11 (47)
Stats: 29 disposals, six contested possessions, three clearances, two score assists, six score involvements, four tackles.
His kick inside 50 to ruckman Brad Ottens got Geelong rolling after Collingwood kick the first two goals. They thrashed the Magpies to set up a third grand final appearance for the 21-year-old who earned All-Australian selection for the first time.

2010: Geelong 11.13 (79) defeated by Collingwood 18.12 (120)
Stats: 21 disposals, nine contested possessions, four clearances, one score assist, eight score involvements, eight tackles.
Finally the golden run stopped in Mark Thompson's final game as Cats coach and Gary Ablett's last hurrah before he joined Gold Coast. Selwood made eight tackles but it was Collingwood's time as Selwood finished the season a week early for the first time in his career and won his first club best and fairest.

2011: Geelong 17.15 (117) defeated West Coast 10.9 (69)
Stats: 25 disposals, 12 contested possessions, eight clearances, one score assist, two score involvements, six tackles.
Guess who was back again? Selwood dominated with 12 contested possessions, eight tackles and a goal playing against his brothers Adam and Scott who were wearing Eagles jumpers. First-year coach Chris Scott led Selwood into his fourth grand final.

2013: Geelong 15.7 (97) defeated by Hawthorn 14.18 (102)
Stats: 23 disposals, 13 contested possessions, four clearances, no score assists, five score involvements, four tackles.
An epic preliminary final with Hawthorn kicking 4.8 to 1.1 in the last quarter to overcome a 20-point deficit at the final break. Selwood, now the skipper, was among the Cats' best with 23 touches but he could not stop Hawthorn breaking the Kennett curse despite two clean possessions in the final two minutes that nearly cut through the Hawks' defence.

2016: Geelong 8.12 (60) defeated by Sydney 15.7 (97)
Stats: 39 disposals, 25 contested possessions, nine clearances, two score assists, six score involvements, 13 tackles.
Selwood gained 39 touches and had a career-high 13 tackles in his first preliminary final alongside Patrick Dangerfield but the duo played face-saving rather than match-defining games as Geelong was thrashed, having gone into quarter-time 39 points down. It was champion midfielder Jimmy Bartel's last game with Geelong.

2017: Geelong 10.15 (75) defeated by Adelaide 21.10 (136)
Stats: 34 disposals, 19 contested possessions, seven clearances, no score assists, six score involvements, nine tackles.
At the hostile Adelaide Oval against the premiership favourites, the Cats tried to pull a bag out of the hat by playing Dangerfield forward and selecting Nakia Cockatoo. But again, the game was all over just after quarter-time when the Cats conceded nine of the first 10 goals. Selwood lifted in the second quarter but it was too late.

2019: Geelong 9.12 (66) defeated by Richmond 12.13 (85)
Stats: 30 disposals, 14 contested possessions, six clearances, one score assist, six score involvements, seven tackles.
Finally Geelong started well and despite being without the suspended Tom Hawkins, the Cats led by 21 points at half-time. But they couldn't hold out Richmond despite Selwood's tireless efforts. Selwood was again good, having been among the Cats' best three players in Geelong's past five preliminary finals.