“I didn’t think I was going to get there this year, there was a bit of banter going around with the boys in saying I wasn’t going to, but it’s a good feeling to have got there," Simon said about his 100-game milestone.

"I haven’t really thought about it too much this week, I have just been concentrating on the big game but it is special to play your 100th in a Grand Final.
 
“At the moment we can only imagine what it is going to feel like but hopefully we can put in a good performance to get the result we want and bring that trophy home. I’m sure that’d be a good feeling for a long time to come."
 
Reaching three figures this season was a close run thing, after first a knee injury, then a freak accident very nearly cruelly robbed the East Gosford and Wyoming junior of the honour in 2010/11.
 
“It’s been a bit frustrating toward the end of the season. I had had a good season and didn’t want it to end disappointingly. For it to come to this now with a Grand Final and to finish it on a good note, I’m looking forward to doing that,” Simon said.
 
This will be the 25-year-old’s second tilt at Grand Final glory, after coming off the bench in the side’s last appearance in a decider, against Newcastle Jets in 2008.

Along with Alex Wilkinson, John Hutchinson and Adam Kwasnik, Simon will use that experience to pass on to the latest generation of Mariners stars, and says his own memories, as well as the European experience of the likes of Joshua Rose and Patrick Zwaanswijk will all assist preparations for this Sunday.
 
“Patricio and Patrick have played in front of 50,000 people close to week-in week-out and a few of the boys have played in Grand Finals so there’s a little bit of experience there, and it’s going to be a massive occasion, 50,000, the majority of them being Brisbane fans, it’s going to be huge," Simon said.

"Hopefully we have got a good game plan and we can stick it out."
 
The Mariners head into the match as underdogs in many eyes, and while the belief within the camp is unwavering, Simon admits Brisbane pose an extremely formidable opponent.
 
“They have got some record, and they’re a good side," Simon said.

"They’re going to want to finish off the season and keep that record going and win the Grand Final, because I’m sure they’d swap the record for a Grand Final win.

"We’re going to go up there and hopefully put an end to the record that they have going and bring that trophy home."
 
Around 2,000 Mariners Members and supporters are expected to make the journey north for Sunday’s decider, the club’s third in six years, which equals Melbourne Victory’s Hyundai A-League record of Grand Final appearances, and Simon says the squad is planning to give the travelling support a night to remember.
 
“It’s going to be massive for the Coast, 2,000 people going up and a lot of family and friends of each player," Simon said.

"I know that every single person that loves the club will be watching it on TV if they can’t make it up there.

"They can look forward to us bringing that trophy home and having a bit of fun over the next couple of weeks."