DEAFENING music blared, filling the cavernous expanse of the Lexus Centre. In one corner, Shane Wakelin stretched his hamstrings, hoping that they would stay supple for another week. In another, Anthony Rocca limbered and flexed. Dale Thomas, in the spa, flicked water at a teammate.

Offices line one wall. Coaches and staff scurried busily between them, sheaves of paper in hand, their business ill-defined but clearly important. The phone rang constantly.

These were signs, simple but vital. This was a club alive, in the second last week of September. In the auditorium, coach Mick Malthouse was speaking to media. "I'm not here to say it's just another game," he began. "It is not."

Collingwood's mood characterised the city's: waiting, hoping, filling in the hours. In Geelong, it was the same.

Once, these sights and sounds were staples in Melbourne in September. But although Melbourne is still the seat of football power, it is no longer the base. Essendon was the last Victorian team to win the premiership, in 2000. Of 54 finals played in the following six years, only nine were all-Victorian, and there was only one preliminary final. Last year, there was no preliminary final in Melbourne.

So tonight's match has become the most anticipated in this city probably since the Carlton-Essendon preliminary final epic of 1999. It has been sold out since Wednesday, prefiguring a crowd the Melbourne Cricket Club thinks might match the 97,431 at last year's grand final. "Logistically, we're treating it like a grand final," said MCC chief executive Stephen Gough. "The demand has been amazing."

Forecast showers, Channel Seven's live telecast and the infamous fickleness of the MCC members might trim the number. But Gough said indications were that at least 20,000 members would come, and possibly 22,000, which is the reserve's capacity.

Caricature has it that MCC members have a soft spot for Geelong, and a softer one — a swamp perhaps?— for Collingwood.

It is not just that this match guarantees a Victorian team in the grand final for the first time since 2003. It is also that the preliminary final has developed its own place in the calendar as the people's final.

The corporate takeover of the grand final has meant that too many tickets end up in the hands of well-connected casuals, not fussed about either club, deadening the atmosphere. The preliminary final remains the province of the purebred fan. It is why so many were queueing at ticket agencies at dawn on Wednesday, but will know not to bother next week.

Collingwood and Geelong trained yesterday, one of them for the last time this season. The Magpies attracted around 700, not quite enough to fully encircle the oval at Gosch's Paddock. The Cats drew more, but their wait has been longer — for this game, for a premiership. Besides, the mark of destiny has been upon them all this season, and their supporters are determined to live every moment of the journey.

Collingwood has made one change to its team, restoring ruckman Josh Fraser, who was a late withdrawal from last Friday's heroic semi-final win over West Coast. The Magpies are young and dauntless.

Malthouse said lack of finals experience would not bother them. "Whoever played last week has got finals experience," he said.

Geelong made no change. It has been resting since beating the Kangaroos by 106 points in a qualifying final two weeks ago.