Comparisons with the Carlton side that scored a famous preliminary final win over Essendon 20 years ago don't flatter Brendon Bolton's team.
They don't do much for the current day Bombers either, but John Worsfold's men have arguably given fans more reasons to be optimistic that those glory days can be recaptured.
It's a harder sell for Bolton.
With the arch-rivals to renew hostilities at the MCG on Sunday, Blues supporters who take a moment to reminisce about that breathtaking one-point win two decades ago will be forgiven for being left a bit flat when they snap back to the present.
The powerhouse that boasted names like Anthony Koutoufides, Stephen Silvagni, Craig Bradley and Brett Ratten has been replaced by a youthful outfit that remains very much a work-in-progress.
After finishing 14th and 16th in Bolton's first two seasons in charge, Carlton are staring down the barrel of successive wooden spoons, two games adrift at the bottom of the ladder with a 1-9 record.
In the absence of wins, Bolton has to look elsewhere for proof that his extensive rebuild remains on track.
"There's lots of little indicators that you look for," the coach said.
"When we're not winning we're challenging why.
"We've just got to keep looking at the areas that we've got to improve and the areas that we are doing well and maintain them.
"When players know what to invest energy in they can grow, but when it becomes murky and cloudy it's hard because you don't have clarity.
"We think we know what it is it's just about being able to execute it."
The first of Carlton's two wins last year came in a round-eight upset over Essendon, but their chances of repeating the dose haven't been helped by injury and an untimely error in judgment by Dale Thomas.
The veteran joined Kade Simpson (soreness) and Mitch McGovern (ankle) in departing the side beaten by St Kilda after he was banned for drinking a few glasses of wine at a function two days before that match.
Alex Fasolo, Darcy Lang and Will Setterfield won call-ups.
Essendon, 12th with a 4-6 record, have their own injury concerns, with Jake Stringer and Dylan Shiel out with hamstring injuries, replaced by Dylan Clarke and Mark Baguley.
