THE Cats have begun what will become a tradition at all Simonds Stadium home games by getting a club great to ring a historic brass bell prior to the opening bounce.

The bell, which has a history dating back to the Geelong FC's earliest days in the 1850s, was rung before the match against Fremantle by ex-Cats player and coach John Devine.

Prior to the game against Gold Coast it was rung by former Geelong defender Tim McGrath, who has returned to health after battling a serious illness.

Club vice-president Bob Gartland explained the bell's history when he addressed the president's function in the lead-up to the win over the Suns.

"Not far from this ground, the Newtown Fire Station served the people of Geelong," Gartland said.

"Its call to action was a large brass bell. When rung, the bell could be heard for miles.

"When the station was demolished in the 1930s, the bell was given to the Geelong Football Club to use as our timekeeper's bell at the Corio Oval."

Gartland added that the previous timekeeper's bell had been much smaller and was often not heard when it was rung.

The larger bell was greatly appreciated by the timekeeper of the time, a man by the name of Peter Burns.

In the words of Gartland, Burns was "one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

"He was twice awarded 'Champion of the Colony', the equivalent of today's Brownlow medal.

"Burns retired from playing in 1902, and after that acted as our official timekeeper for 39 years, until 1941."

When the Cats moved to Kardinia Park the bell moved with them, but it sat idle once a siren was introduced at the ground.

However, it has now been brought to life again as a key part of the build-up to every match at Simonds Stadium.

"We will ring this bell as a call to action," Gartland said. "Not just for our players, but for our supporters.

"So when you hear the bell in the coming weeks, get behind our boys.

"Let them know that they have our support, and the support of generations of Geelong people before us.

"As our club song says: 'And when the ball is bounced, to the final bell; Stand up, and fight like hell.'"