Craig McRae won a free dinner from old Brisbane premiership teammate turned coaching foe Michael Voss when Collingwood knocked off Carlton earlier this season.
But the man known as 'Fly' won't be afforded similar treatment from another Lions flag hero if his Magpies roll Geelong in Saturday's qualifying final.
"It's probably been a while (since we spoke)," Cats coach Chris Scott said.
"But I could not see him for 10 years and within five seconds we'd be back to the way we were 20 years ago.
"He's a really infectious kind of guy and I really admire what he's done, along with Justin Leppitsch as well, at that footy club this year.
"They should be proud of themselves."
McRae has masterminded Collingwood's remarkable rise from second-last to the top four in his first season at the helm, with help from right-hand man Leppitsch.
The pair were also crucial cogs in Richmond's recent trio of premierships as assistants to Damien Hardwick.
Now they're trying to replicate that success with the Magpies, who are chasing a record-equalling 16th AFL/VFL premiership.
It's been two decades since McRae, Leppitsch and Scott helped Leigh Matthews' Lions claim the first two flags in a famous hat-trick.
Scott, who was the first emergency for the 2003 grand final and ultimately missed out, said their trio's on-field history will be irrelevant in the coaches' boxes at the MCG on Saturday.
"More than the fact that we know each other is the background," Scott said.
"Culturally, the environment that we're trying to create, there'd be a lot of our experience in Brisbane that would influence that.
"But in terms of on-field stuff, it was so long ago now.
"The influence that Leppitsch and McRae had at Richmond is probably more relevant."
