How a Canberra move sparked Harry Himmelberg's grand final dream

The city is stitched into his GWS Giants jersey and will be with him when he steps on to the game's biggest stage at the MCG on Saturday.

It's a long way from growing up on footy fields around Wagga Wagga and his move to the capital to chase an AFL dream.

The 23-year-old admits he had to pinch himself when the Giants survived a preliminary final thriller against Collingwood last week to book a ticket to grand final day.

He's been dreaming of this moment since he first pulled on his football boots in the middle of country NSW.

But he isn't thinking about the lengthy drives he did across the countryside to chase his dream. Nor the interstate moves, the body-breaking preseasons or the accolades achieved to reach the sport's pinnacle event. That can wait. This week has one focus: beating Richmond.

"There's been quite a lot of pinch yourself moments along the journey and to be playing in the grand final is something special. Hopefully it's a memorable day," Himmelberg said.

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"It's obviously been a little bit overwhelming but I've switched pretty quickly to Richmond and it's all business during this week - we're not going to take Richmond lightly."

Himmelberg will be thrust into the spotlight with the capital city's name stitched into the back of his orange jersey. But Canberra means more than just needle-and-thread for the rising star.

Himmelberg moved to the capital as 18-year-old in a bid to break out of country footy and launch himself on to the radar by joining Eastlake's NEAFL roster.

Making the move from Wagga Wagga to Canberra shaped him as not only a footballer, but a person, as he grappled with his new life while trying to get drafted.

"It was a challenge but I'm very grateful for it," Himmelberg said. "It made me really appreciate how much footy meant to me and to be drafted at the end of that year was awesome.

"Being in a professional environment at a NEAFL club before I got drafted bridged the gap between junior footy to the top level.

"The main goal is to try and improve every year and I think I've been able to do that so far. We've built and matured as a team a lot this year, and we're ready to step up to the plate."

The Giants have won three-consecutive knockout games to reach their first grand final in their eighth season.

They've taken the hard road through this year's final series, having avoided elimination against the Western Bulldogs and then beat the Brisbane Lions in Queensland.

The Tigers boast 11 premiership flags from 23 deciders, but Himmelberg believes the Giants recent success and form will be enough to defeat the AFL powerhouse.

"We've got plenty of finals experience as well," Himmelberg said. "We've played finals for the past four years and had a fair bit of success in that short time. We've built on that every year and by first bounce on Saturday, anything can happen.

"We've got enough experience and maturity in the group to handle anything that comes at us and we're really looking forward to it."

The Giants will send busloads of Canberra supporters to Melbourne for a chance to watch the club win its first premiership.

The Giants are also locked in negotiations with the ACT government about extending their 10-year deal to play in Canberra.