Melbourne defender Neville Jetta admits it hasn't always been easy sharing training facilities with the Melbourne Storm players.
Since 2009, when Jetta made his AFL debut, he's watched the Storm power into eight NRL finals campaigns, while the Demons haven't played in any.
But this year Jetta can share the September finals buzz with his team breaking a 12-year drought as they face Geelong on Friday night in an elimination match at the MCG.
The Storm are also playing a final on Friday night next door at AAMI Park, hosting South Sydney.
The teams regularly cross paths in the player lounge, gym and cafe at their AAMI Park base.
Jetta has formed a bond with two of the Storm's indigenous players Will Chambers and Josh Addo-Carr, who he has converted into a Demons fan.
"I've been a bit envious, watching them and what they've been able to achieve over a long time," Jetta said.
"They're an unbelievable club so being able to share in what they do, day after day and week after week, we take a lot from them."
Jetta says Melbourne are more than ready for their first AFL final since 2006 and they have confidence they aren't just making up the numbers.
The 28-year-old has been in career-best form over the past three seasons, which he credited to his two most recent senior coaches, Paul Roos' and Simon Goodwin.
"It's the belief that we all have now," he said.
"We probably went through that period where we lost the love for footy a bit and Roosy gave us that belief and hope and the players he brought in showed us how to enjoy the game again.
"Simon's a very demanding coach but fair at the same time and he understands you as a person even before football and to be able to create that sort of connection helps as a footy player."
The two meetings between the teams this season have been cliff-hangers won by the Cats, but Jetta felt the Demons were better for the experience.
"It's probably the learning that we had to have," he said.
"We've learnt that you have to play your role as individuals throughout the whole game and not drop off at any point."
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