They played a combined 527 games during their elite sporting careers through the 1990's and early 2000s but Adrian and Narelle Fletcher never enjoyed the ultimate success.
A football journeyman, Adrian played for Geelong, St Kilda, the Brisbane Bears, Brisbane Lions, and Fremantle between 1989 and 2001 while Narelle, a three-point specialist shooting guard, represented the AIS, Melbourne Tigers, Perth Breakers, and Dandenong Rangers during her 296-game WNBL career.
Now, as proud parents of Brisbane Lions young gun Jaspa, they are soaking up precious finals for they know better than most, they are hard to make and harder to win.
On Saturday, the 20-year-old will play in his second Grand Final in his second season and 41st AFL game.
"Jaspa's basically trumped his father because this week he equals the amount of finals Adrian played for his whole career (7), he trumps me because I only played in two Grand Finals and if Brisbane win the flag, he trumps us all," Narelle laughs.
"You've got to take them when they're there because who knows when you'll get another chance. Grand Finals are tough to make and they're tough to win," Adrian adds.
The couple who met in 1995, a year after Narelle's father put money on Adrian to win the Brownlow Medal, have been on the losing end of some epic Grand Finals.
Adrian made his league debut for Geelong in 1989, suffered a stress fracture in Round 20 and watched on from the MCG stands as the Cats and Hawthorn contested one of the greatest-ever Grand Finals.
Three years later, he played in an elimination then semifinal for the Saints then reached a preliminary final with the Bears in 1996.
Narelle's teams were also on the wrong end of history.
In 1996, she was a key member of a Melbourne Tigers side which fell to powerhouse Adelaide Lightning who went on to complete a hat trick of titles. Three years later, her Perth Breakers lost to the iconic AIS team of teenagers which featured future superstars Lauren Jackson, Penny Taylor and Belinda Snell.
"When you're playing, one season rolls into the next and it wasn't until I retired, I thought 'oh wow, I didn't play many finals', Narelle says.
"Jaspa hasn't even played 50 games and he's in his second Grand Final. Some players play a monster number of games and never make one, you just can't take it for granted and I know he doesn't."
Scott Pendlebury isn't the only footballer with a basketball background, Jaspa was a talented junior who was coached by his champion mother.
"Basketball really helped his footy. When you're in traffic all the time it makes you a better decision maker and Narelle will tell you that, she was a gun," Adrian explains.
"Jaspa is so calm. He makes people around him better, when the ball goes through him good things happen just like they did with Adrian," Narelle says.
Playing in big games at the MCG or at the Tigers den, the old tennis centre in Melbourne, was nothing for Adrian and Narelle compared to the nerves they have watching their son.
"Not having any control, like you do as a player, is so hard. My adrenalin goes all day, I barely eat and never had that problem when I played. I can feel quite sick, I get the shakes. If anyone tries to text me during a game there is no chance I can reply," Narelle laughs.
Superstitious, Adrian has to cross his right leg over his left when sitting in his seat.
That seat will be with his family on Saturday after being spooked by the victorious Magpies last year.
"I had my (AFL) 200 club ticket and it was all Collingwood supporters around me and that was OK when we were in front but when it got to the end and we were behind it was hard to cope," he says.
"I really enjoy the anticipation before the game because you don't know what's going to unfold and that's what you miss about playing. You can't control what's going on out there, it's like coaching and that's where that anxiety comes from."
Narelle was pregnant with Jasper when the Lions last lifted the premiership cup in 2003.
If the Lions salute this last Saturday in September, ultimate glory will represent plenty for the Fletcher family.
"It would just mean the world. It brings a little tear to my eye thinking about it, talking about it. My sister lives in Victoria and travels everywhere to watch Jaspa play. We'll all be there on Saturday," Narelle says.
Adrian can't dare to dream, just yet.
"I'm happy Jaspa's there and you'd love for him to get the opportunity to have some silverware as well. Brisbane have given themselves the best opportunity, they're in good form as a team, if they play as good as they can they're a good chance."