Time is ticking on GWS's premiership clock but an inaugural Giant doesn't believe it will strike midnight anytime soon.
Adam Tomlinson maintains it's not make or break just yet for the talent-laden Giants to fulfil their AFL flag potential in the wake of consecutive preliminary final losses.
"I don't think that chance will pass us by. We've got time," the 25-year-old told AAP after playing all 22 home and away games for the first time in his seven-season career this year.
"There's a fair bit of pressure on every team who finishes in the top eight."
The key defender was part of the club's six-point and 36-point losses to eventual 2016 and 2017 premiers, the Western Bulldogs and Richmond.
In the second meeting, Tomlinson stood tall and showcased his versatility with a memorable 26 touches on the wing.
But the 113-gamer is pushing memories of his personal finals high and team lows to the back of mind ahead of the all-Sydney elimination final at the SCG on September 8.
"We don't dwell on what's happened in the past," Tomlinson said.
"But we definitely want to go the whole way this time. You don't play finals to bow out in the first week."
Modern AFL history, however, doesn't look kindly upon teams unable to get over the hump in back-to-back preliminary finals.
Of the three sides to suffer at least two straight losses in the second-to-last week since 2000, none went on to win a grand final within a five-season span.
GWS is fighting to avoid the same fate as St Kilda (2004, '05), the Western Bulldogs ('08, '09, '10) and North Melbourne ('14 and '15).
Although slightly skewed due to listed veterans Heath Shaw (injured) and Brett Deledio (possibly returning), GWS's average age ranks fifth in the competition at 24.2 years.
It's a comparable figure to the post-preliminary final sides of the 2006 Saints (24 years, 2nd oldest), 2011 Bulldogs (23.8 years, 4th) and 2016 Kangaroos (25.2 years, 1st).
But the Giants' unprecedented core of star youngsters, mostly stockpiled on years of top draft picks, makes them a different proposition.
Tomlinson counts among under-26 regulars Tim Taranto, Harry Himmelberg, Jacob Hopper, Josh Kelly, Zac Williams, Lachie Whitfield, Stephen Coniglio, Toby Greene, Jonathon Patton, Jeremy Cameron, Dylan Shiel, Rory Lobb and Nick Haynes.
That maturing brigade should give the Giants an opportunity to chip away at a flag for years to come.
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