While the premiership is all that matters, this finals series will mark big personal milestones for two of the AFL’s best captains.

Friday week’s blockbuster qualifying final against Collingwood will be the 28th final for Cats skipper Joel Selwood, equalling the club record of former teammate Jimmy Bartel.

It will also be a landmark night for Selwood’s Magpie counterpart Scott Pendlebury, who will play his 300th senior game.

As minor premiers, the Cats are guaranteed at least two finals next month and assuming Selwood takes his tally to 29, that puts him in even more rarified AFL company.

He would join three of the game’s all-time greats – Carlton defender Bruce Doull, Hawthorn utility Leigh Matthews and North Melbourne defender Wayne Schimmelbusch.

The only players with more finals matches are Hawthorn’s Michael Tuck, who holds the record of 39, Port Adelaide and Hawthorn utility Shaun Burgoyne on 35 and Collingwood’s Gordon Coventry with 31.

With the season over for Hawthorn, Burgoyne’s playing future should become clear soon.

Selwood personifies Geelong’s ongoing success, with their drought-breaking 2007 premiership capping a dream debut season for the midfielder.

He also won the Rising Star award that year and earned the first of his six All-Australian selections.

The three-time premiership player has captained the Cats since 2012 and has only missed out on playing finals in 2015.

Pendlebury likewise is an all-time great at his club and has captained the Magpies since 2014.

The five-time All Australian also has won five club best and fairest awards, one less than the record set by coach Nathan Buckley.

He is in the 40-man All-Australian squad, with the team of 22 to be named on Wednesday night.

Pendlebury was high among Collingwood’s best last Friday night in the win over Essendon that secured their top-four finish.

He is one of five members of their 2010 premiership team still playing for the Magpies, along with Dayne Beams, Steele Sidebottom, Ben Reid and Tyson Goldsack.

The skipper is the only confirmed starter among them for the qualifying final, although Sidebottom is rated a strong chance to return from surgery and Reid will push for a surprise senior recall.