Meet Chris McLaren and Adam Dowie.

Mates. Football lovers. Coaching rivals.

McLaren played under now North Warrnambool Eagles coach Dowie at Koroit before taking over the reins himself.

Now the pair will go head-to-head in the coaching stakes in Saturday's Hampden league grand final.

They know each other inside and out - their quirks, their strengths and their weaknesses.

McLaren said Dowie, affectionately known as 'Wiggsy', was a master storyteller who could get nervous and talked a lot.

"Wiggsy has come up with some beauties in team meetings over the years and I am sure the North boys have had a few of the same ones," he said.

"We had a picture of a pressure cooker at one meeting, the big black hole in the universe and we got a story about the Lion King one time.

"I think he's brought out one about some sausages. We still have a bit of a laugh about those at Koroit to this day."

Dowie said McLaren was the "mayor of Koroit" with questionable fashion sense but an innate ability to build relationships with his players.

"Chris has this armchair in the change rooms at Koroit which used to be his little spot," he said.

"He'd be like the Pied Piper and kids would gather round and players would gather round. Things just used to revolve around that armchair.

"I was in there a few weeks ago and I think it's still there. It's really out of place now. The furniture and style has changed but he's still got his armchair."

McLaren and Dowie are both diligent in their preparation but it's the latter whose nerves are more evident.

"He can go from being quite relaxed at times to being quite uptight," McLaren said of the six-time Hampden league premiership coach.

"When he was coaching Koroit the boys used to get him quite worked up at times. It's certainly something we used to enjoy doing and have a laugh about."

Both coaches embrace planning and back themselves on game day.

Dowie prides himself on his preparation but believes he has a challenger in McLaren.

"I remember a couple of years ago talking to Chris when they lost a second semi over at Portland and he watched the video seven times," he said.

"I've been thinking about that this week and thinking 'I haven't watched our second semi seven times'.

"Over the years I've thought I prepare better than anyone and now...I know what Chris does and I can't go in thinking like that because he would've done just as much, if not more preparation.

"I can't out plan him."

Dowie, who describes himself as "a control freak", knows his shortcomings and admits he's envious of McLaren's ability to relate to everyone.

"Chris is a bit like the mayor of Koroit. One thing I have taken away from Chris is he is really, really good at building relationships," he said.

"He not only coaches the players but gives them advice 12 months of the year. He's a real person the players can approach and talk to about anything.

"For me, that is something I am still working at but Chris has got the perfect balance."

McLaren respects and appreciates what Dowie has taught him and is wary of what the master coach could deploy on grand final day.

"He is clearly a great coach with a great record. There is no doubt they will change some stuff from second semi-final day which we will as well," he said.

"He won't let the game roll on if it's not working."

Regardless of the result, there will be a story to tell.

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