With finals footy set to kick into high gear this week, we take a look back at the Cats September history, reminisce over the successes, and remember the ones that got away

Premierships: Nine
Grand Finals: 17

The one that got away: 2008. One home and away loss for the season, comfortable qualifying and preliminary final wins, then the Cats went missing when it counted. Players have since spoken of how they expected it to just happen for them.

Norm Smith medallists: Jimmy Bartel (2011), Paul Chapman (2009), Steve Johnson (2007) and Gary Ablett snr (1989)

Summary: The Cats' curse was put to bed in 2007 with a record 119-point win over Port Adelaide. Their four appearances prior were lost in the space of seven seasons between 1989-1995, with club champions Gary Ablett snr, Garry Hocking and Paul Couch featuring in all four matches. Not even a Norm Smith Medal and nine majors from Ablett in 1989 could pull his side over the line in a match regarded as one of the greatest Grand Finals in history. Stretching back to 1967, when they suffered a nine-point loss to Richmond, the Cats failed to play in a decider for 22 years. The previous victory in 1963 was coached by Bob Davis, who featured in the 1951 and 1952 triumphs and 1953 loss as a player.