Long after the current crop of players are gone and all of the Western Bulldogs' premiership heroes have hung up the boots, this rivalry will remain so long as the supporters remember that fateful night.
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Greater Western Sydney Giants ruckman Shane Mumford hopes the Manuka Oval stands are a sea of orange in a preliminary final rematch against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.
The two sides have traded wins in their last five encounters but it is last year's preliminary final that will have the clubs forever intertwined.
Mumford says rivalries are fuelled by the supporters and the more passionate they are, the more fierce it becomes.
"Obviously the more passionate the supporters are, the more people that get here tomorrow night to build that rivalry, [makes it greater] over the years to come," Mumford said.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says the match is shaping up as an "exciting confrontation" with the rivalry fast developing as one of the league's most enticing.
The two clubs have a history in Canberra, meeting three times at Manuka Oval, while the Bulldogs used to play regular premiership matches in the capital before the Giants arrived on the scene.
"There are many rivalries but this one is developing as a really important one for the game," Beveridge said.
"It obviously means GWS have made pretty good statements on the field and turned into a powerful team and we're pretty happy to be talked about in that regard as well."
The Giants will welcome back young gun Tim Taranto after captain Phil Davis suffered a hamstring twinge at training earlier in the week.
Taranto was rested for the Sydney derby but the second pick of the 2016 draft has impressed in his debut season, and dashes hopes of a return for adopted Canberra Harrison Himmelberg.
"I think we've seen this year anyone that comes in is able to play their role really well," Mumford said.
"When guys do go out and someone else comes in, it's not like we're losing too much because they are coming in and playing such great footy."
It's the only change to the side that dismantled arch-rivals the Swans last week and widened the gap between the two Sydney clubs in the Giants' favour.
Taranto will take his place on the half-forward line and will be keen to execute from the word go given the Bulldogs' recent record of fightbacks.
The reigning premiers looked nothing of the sort early on against the Brisbane Lions last week but powered back in a dominant finish.
A loss to the Fremantle Dockers is the only blemish on an otherwise perfect record for the Bulldogs this year, but Mumford says the Giants aren't worried about their opposition's start to the season.
"I think we've just got to continue to look after our processes and play the way we want to play," Mumford said.
"If that gets us in front, obviously we'll just continue to do what we do best and continue on that way."
AFL ROUND SIX
Friday: GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval. Bounce at 7:50pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
GWS squad:
FB: Nathan Wilson, Adam Tomlinson, Zac Williams
HB: Adam Kennedy, Nick Haynes, Heath Shaw
C: Dylan Shiel, Josh Kelly, Steve Johnson
HF: Tim Taranto, Rory Lobb, Matt Kennedy
FF: Sam Reid, Jonny Patton, Jeremy Cameron
RR: Shane Mumford, Callan Ward, Tom Scully
Interchange: Toby Greene, Devon Smith, Jacob Hopper, Aidan Corr
