The AFL's Gold Coast hub was a mad time in the COVID-19 pandemic that left its mark on anyone who was there.
It particularly stung Geelong on-baller Tom Atkins and continues to drive him five years later.
Atkins will probably have the job on in-form Hawthorn midfielder Jai Newcombe in Friday night's preliminary final at the MCG.
The Cat has set an AFL record with 215 tackles this season, and while Atkins is not as high-profile as Bailey Smith or Max Holmes, he is integral to the Geelong midfield.
In 2020, Atkins was dropped for Sam Simpson after their qualifying-final loss to Port Adelaide and did not play again that season, eventually watching Geelong lose the grand final to Richmond.
It was Atkins' second AFL season and the setback hurt. He joked that being in the hub meant he "couldn't get a cuddle from Mum and Dad".
"At the time, I thought it was the worst thing that had ever happened to me. It was a really challenging three weeks," he told reporters this week.
"I should be stoked that they're winning (two finals), but I wasn't there with them and I found myself really conflicted.
"So it just gave me a bit of perspective, I guess, that you really are a chess piece, to come into the team and try to have an impact.
"That's the mindset our VFL guys need to have now, that if you're called upon, you need to be able to come in and contribute."
Atkins said being dropped taught him a clear lesson about where he fits into team.
"If anything, it reinforced that we're just cogs in the machine," he said.
"The goal is for Geelong to win a premiership."
Atkins has not missed a final since that 2020 setback and said his mindset is simple.
"I just love playing footy and I love trying to play my role for the team," he said.
"So whether that's playing on Jai or being more an attacking, contested option - whatever I'm told to do, I want to try and do that as good as I can."
Once Geelong's season is over, assistant coach Steven King will leave to take over at Melbourne.
Atkins has worked closely with King and is rapt for him.
"He deserves it so much - the amount of work he puts in ... the detail he goes into on opposition analysis and the plans for us - he's made for that job," Atkins said.
