There is no substitute for big-game experience, and there is nothing quite like the fire burning within after years of heartbreak in those very matches.
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It is clear even to the untrained eye that Weston Creek Molonglo have both in spades, and it fuelled their bid to claim back-to-back Cricket ACT John Gallop Cup titles at Phillip Oval on Sunday.
Mention big games and the mind immediately wanders to former first-class player John Rogers holding the reins and a Big Bash League champion in Jono Dean at the top of the order.
Beyond them are a host of players more than used to grand finals - and many of them no strangers to heartbreak. This was Creek's fifth consecutive Gallop Cup decider, and their lone win in that streak came last season.
They are going a long way towards making amends for their past defeats after claiming the silverware with an 86-run thrashing of Queanbeyan in the Cricket ACT one-day grand final.
The one that stood out in this decider was man-of-the-match Sam Taylor, peeling off 59 with the bat and claiming an unmatched 3-28 with the ball. But he would give the personal accolades away for more team glory.
"Mainly it goes down to a bloke like John Rogers, the experience he shows being away and playing high levels of cricket, and wanting to come back here and contribute to a small club like Weston Creek," Taylor said.
"A premiership is a big thing for John and also the club as a whole, so this one is for 'Bucky'. I think we were about two from 11 [in grand finals] at one stage, so it's nice to get into a rhythm and start winning a few for a change."
Rogers won the toss and opted to bat on a tired Phillip Oval deck, with the former Sheffield Shield batsman (54) and Taylor cashing in to steer the favourites to 8-249.
Queanbeyan's Vele Dukoski was the pick of the bowlers with 3-50 while Bluebags skipper Mark Solway chipped in with 2-50 in his bid to lead the club his dad once starred for to a title.
He will have to wait just a little longer after Queanbeyan folded for 163 to leave the Bluebags still hunting for their first top grade triumph since 2015-16.
Queanbeyan fell agonisingly short of claiming a clean sweep across four grades after the club claimed one-day premierships in second, third and fourth grade.
Now Creek will set their sights on a two-day crown - but not before they enjoy adding another Gallop Cup to a burgeoning trophy cabinet.
"It's brought a new excitement to the team as soon as you start winning them, it makes you more hungry to keep going and going," Creek batsman Robbie Trickett said.
"Hopefully we can keep going for the two-dayers as well. We're playing Queanbeyan again in the two-dayers, so we'll give ourselves a few days and get back into it on Tuesday."
AT A GLANCE
Cricket ACT John Gallop Cup grand final: WESTON CREEK MOLONGLO 8-249 (S Taylor 59, J Rogers 54; V Dukoski 3-50, M Solway 2-50) bt QUEANBEYAN 163 (B Falkenberg 29, L Walker 27; S Taylor 3-30, H Medhurst 3-44) by 86 runs at Phillip Oval.
Second grade grand final: QUEANBEYAN 9-106 (B Millynn 35*, T Kellar 31; C Fox 3-19, J Hogan 3-25) bt ANU 105 (C Fox 24, J Hogan 24; T Phelps 3-7, C Edgar 2-8) by one wicket at Freebody Oval.
Third grade grand final: QUEANBEYAN 4-219 (D Bush 78, S Girish 47; L Santinon 1-24, L Luchetti 1-30) bt ANU 8-193 (M Ireland 56, J Allen 41; S Fahey 3-36, F Bennett 2-26) by 26 runs at ANU South Oval.
Fourth grade grand final: QUEANBEYAN 4-89 (J White 28, K Ditton 24*; S Moore 2-12, H Axelby 1-8) bt NORTH CANBERRA-GUNGAHLIN 84 (S Moore 16*, M Wheatley 15; T Thuaux 4-18, K Ditton 2-15) by six wickets at Neil Bulger Oval.
