With little or no fuss Geelong’s reliable Cat, Joel Corey, always knew how to get the job done.

For 14 years Corey played a critical role in the Cats midfield. He was never flashy but always composed and consistent during play.

However, it’s not until you’re confronted with his long list of accolades that you realize how much of a gold class act he has been for the Geelong Cats.

Corey will not only join Geelong’s list of champions as a three-time premiership player but he will end his career as a two-time Carji Greeves medalist and a back-to-back All-Australian in 2007/08.

Geelong Cats drafted Corey from Western Australia in 1999 when he was only 17 and the following year he made his debut against St Kilda in round 17. It didn’t take him long to reveal his brilliance, in fact, it was clear that Geelong had found a very special player. Corey took to his spot immediately, delivering 15 disposals, five in-side 50s and three clearances in his first AFL game.

During his remarkable career of 276 games, Corey influenced many past and present players at the Geelong Football Club. Both former teammates, David Wojcinski and Cameron Mooney, believe it was Corey’s professionalism that set him apart from the rest. In his spare time, when Corey wasn’t hitting the surf down at Torquay, he would either be on the training track or in the gym preparing for game day.    

“When it comes to football he’s the ultimate professional, he’s the first one into the gym and he’s very thorough in the gym and out on the track,” Wojcinski told Cats TV.

“He gets pretty angry when he’s not out there training with the boys, he doesn’t like to miss anything but that’s just Joel, he’s a very competitive guy but then again he’s a laid back kind of guy as well.”

Mooney even found himself following in the footsteps of his younger teammate.

“It took me living with him to realize how professional you have to be at this game, which is something I’m really grateful for because at that time of my career I was a little bit all over the place and I watched this guy who was three years younger than me - he was so professional in everything he did and that’s what it took for me to finally become professional,” Mooney said.

“I love the guy he’s one of my best mates and on the field he’s just a bit of an animal in the way that he runs, he’s never been the best at long distance but at the last quarter of every game he’s usually running harder than anyone else.”

The most time Corey has spent off the field was in 2010 after he damaged his knee during preseason training, which kept him to a 14 game season. Other than that he hasn’t missed much football since his first year in 2000 where he played six games.    

For over a decade Corey has been the reliable Cat who knows exactly what to do when the pressure hits. His presence on the field in 2014 will be greatly missed and his boots will be extremely tough to fill.