When Geelong hosted Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium on a chilly Saturday night in the 2013 season, it was certainly more than your average mid-season clash.
Hoisted way above the roof of the stadium were four brand new light towers, which were officially 'switched on' in front of a packed house at the Cattery for the very first night game at the venue.
The match marked Geelong's first game at home in 2013, which also meant that spectators could sit in the freshly renovated 'Players Stand' for the very first time.
If that was not enough, the great Gary Ablett Junior also made his return to Kardinia Park in new colours, after joining the Suns in their inaugural AFL season in 2011.
Geelong had started the 2013 season in strong form with eight wins from nine games, while also holding a perfect record against Gold Coast since they entered the competition.
It was certainly a busy night at GMHBA Stadium, and that was before the match had even started.
The two teams traded blows in an even opening term, Geelong's tall duo of Nathan Vardy and Trent West both hitting the scoreboard, while Ablett got involved with an impressive finish of his own.
Steven Motlop slotted his first of the night late in the quarter, with the scores level at the end of an entertaining first term.
Geelong started to gain the ascendancy during the second quarter through goals to Bartel and Hawkins, along with a second major for Nathan Vardy which put the Cats 10-points clear at the main break.
Despite hitting the lead in the second term, the Cats certainly did not have things all their own way but were let off the hook by some inaccurate kicking from the Suns, who only 1.6 from seven scoring shots in the quarter.
A second goal for Jimmy Bartel opened proceedings in the second half to extend Geelong's lead, but on a night full of storylines there was still plenty of twists left in this tale.
Facing an 18-point deficit, Gold Coast rattled off five goals in a 12 minute period to completely flip momentum in the match, all of a sudden leaving the Cats two goals adrift midway through the third term.
With the pressure mounting, Geelong's leaders stood tall and arrested momentum, the Cats booting the final two goals of the third quarter to leave scores level once again at the final break.
That little burst was ultimately more important than it seemed at the time, as the Cats went on a rampage in the last quarter.
Bartel kicked his third, Vardy added two more to his tally, Geelong amassed 14 scoring shots to the Suns two and piled on nine goals, turning a tense contest into a 52-point win on a historic night.
Of course there was one last slice of magic from the little master, who replicated his incredible goal from 2009 against Brisbane with an impossible snap from tight on the boundary, earning a standing ovation from the Geelong faithful.
Jimmy Bartel was awarded the three Brownlow Votes after gathering 30 disposals and kicking three goals, while Ablett (34 disposals, two goals) received two votes on route to taking home the Brownlow Medal later that year.
Nathan Vardy slotted a game high four goals, while Mitch Duncan (30 disposals) and Mathew Stokes (27 disposals) both found plenty of the footy.
2013 Round 10 – Geelong v Gold Coast @ GMHBA Stadium
GEELONG 3.2 6.6 9.10 18.15 (123)
GOLD COAST 3.2 4.8 9.10 10.11 (71)
GOALS: Vardy 4, Bartel 3, Guthrie, Hawkins, Motlop 2, Blicavs, Burbury, Duncan, Hunt, West 1
DISPOSALS: Bartel, Duncan 30, Stokes 27, Kelly 25, Corey 24, Johnson 22
BROWNLOW VOTES: Jimmy Bartel (3), Gary Ablett (2), Mitch Duncan (1)
CROWD: 30,087 @ GMHBA Stadium
GEELONG STARTING 22
1. Mitch Brown
3. Jimmy Bartel
4. Andrew Mackie
7. Harry Taylor
8. Josh Hunt
9. James Kelly
11. Joel Corey
12. Trent West
13. Tom Lonergan
14. Joel Selwood
15. Jordan Schroder
20. Steve Johnson
22. Mitch Duncan
26. Tom Hawkins
27. Mathew Stokes
28. Allen Christensen
29. Cameron Guthrie
30. Nathan Vardy
32. Steven Motlop
43. George Burbury
44. Corey Enright
46. Mark Blicavs
