It became one of the most memorable nights in Geelong Football Club history the last time St Kilda travelled down the highway, in the opening round of the 2024 season.
The headlines started before the ball had been bounced, with the Cats opening a brand new grandstand at GMHBA Stadium in honour of club legend and longest serving captain, Joel Selwood.
Recognising the impact Selwood had throughout his extraordinary career at Geelong, the four time premiership player walked out to a standing ovation in front of his adoring home fans, before kicking one final goal to officially open the stand.
What a way to kick off the 2024 season, and there was still a game of footy to be played.
Adding to the enormity of the occasion, new recruit Shaun Mannagh would also make his AFL debut against the Saints after being selected by the Cats with pick 36 in the 2023 AFL draft.
Geelong fans would have to wait a little longer to get a glimpse of the crafty small forward, with Mannagh starting the game as substitute.
But the Cats faithful would not have to wait long to get up out of the seats with another emerging talent, Ollie Dempsey kicking Geelong's first goal of the new campaign in just his eighth AFL appearance.
Superstar forward, Jeremy Cameron submitted an early goal of the year contender with an absolute pearler from deep in the pocket, the Cats taking a four point lead into quarter time after a relatively low scoring opening term.
Geelong dominated general play in the first half leading the inside 50 count 36-19, piling on another four goals in the second quarter but the lead only swelled to 13 points at the main break.
The biggest story from the first half was Ollie Dempsey, who kicked three goals of his own and continually tested St Kilda with his elite running capacity on the wing, a new star announcing himself to the football world.
The Cats had a chance to slam the door shut in the third quarter but were wasteful in front of the big sticks, failing to kick a goal from six scoring shots as the Saints pulled within 10 points at the final break.
Needing an spark in the last quarter, Shaun Mannagh entered the game for the first time in his AFL debut and it seemed to inspire his teammates, Geelong kicking away with three unanswered goals to build a 21 point buffer late in the term.
But there was another twist in the tale, St Kilda responding with three goals in as many minutes to close the gap to one point, with only two minutes remaining in the match.
With momentum and the game seemingly slipping away from the Cats, captain Patrick Dangerfield stood tall in a big moment and nailed a long range set shot, which would ultimately be the sealer as Geelong held on to register an eight point victory.
It was a poetic finish; the Geelong skipper clinching the result for his side on a night of celebration for the Cats greatest ever captain.
Ollie Dempsey would receive a NAB Rising Star nomination for his incredible performance, en route to taking out the award at the end of the season.
Nearly 40,000 spectators packed into GMHBA Stadium to witness the historic night, the biggest crowd for an AFL game at the venue in over 40 years.
2024 Round 1 – Geelong Cats v St Kilda @ GMHBA Stadium
GEELONG 2.3 6.7 6.13 10.16 (76)
ST KILDA 1.5 4.6 5.9 9.14 (68)
GOALS
Geelong: Dempsey 3, Cameron 2, Tuohy, O.Henry, Hawkins, Dangerfield, Close 1
St Kilda: Membrey 3, Wilson, King 2, Sharman, Phillipou 1
DISPOSALS
Geelong: Dangerfield 25, Holmes, Duncan 23, Stewart 22, Cameron, Atkins 21
St Kilda: Bonner 28, Wanganeen-Milera, Steele 25, Marshall, Henry 19, Windhager 18
CROWD: 39,352 @ GMHBA Stadium
