There are certain moments in time that have the ability to completely change the fortunes of a club. 

Geelong has been famous for its recruiting prowess over an extended period of time, able to attract free agents and nail selections up the draft board to continue the evolution of the team. 

But what has also been instrumental has been the club's ability to find diamonds in the rough, often able to utilise picks in the latter rounds and the rookie draft to increase list depth, which has led to the discovery of some incredible talents. 

In 2016, Geelong found a combination of all of the above. 

Solidifying the defensive stocks and adding a significant Irish flavour, the Cats' 2016 player movement period might one day be considered one of the competition's best ever off-seasons. 

Prior to the draft, Geelong struck a deal with Carlton to bring Zach Tuohy to the club, following that with a pre-draft International signing as they added Mark O'Connor to the list. 

They then followed up with some great selections in the National Draft, securing the services of Brandan Parfitt (pick 26), Tom Stewart (pick 40) and Esava Ratugolea (pick 43). 

The Cats were not done there, adding Jack Henry and Zach Guthrie to the rookie list to complete their playing list for the 2017 season. 

Ultimately, six of those players would go on to feature in the 2022 premiership and four of them are still staples in Geelong's line-up to the present day. 

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 25: Zach Tuohy and Tom Stewart of the Cats warm up before the round 15 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Richmond Tigers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 25, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

Tuohy would go on to play 168 matches for Geelong to add to his 120 with Carlton, holding the record for the most V/AFL games by any Irish player.

Stewart has accumulated a plethora of accolades along the journey, including five All-Australian selections and two Carji Greeves Medals. 

The pair struck up a brilliant friendship that extends to the present day, with the duo even launching their own podcast series together a few years back. 

Tuohy interviewed Stewart ahead of his 200th game this weekend, asking about that first year at Geelong and the defender's first career goal, which came on the big stage at the MCG against Hawthorn. 

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Stewart sinks his first

Tom Stewart kicks his first career goal with a terrific snap

"You find people along the journey that you have a resounding connection with, immediately off the bat," Stewart said. 

"I think we found that early in the piece. I remember when we were slugging it away over in the opposition rooms over on Moorabool Street, the old lockers were in a wrap around and 44 happened to be across from number 2.

"We came to the club together with a number of other blokes, I think there were 11 or 12 of us in the same year.

"I think that was almost the moment for me where I felt like I truly belonged, on that Easter Monday in 2017.

"We had a massive win against Hawthorn, 90,000 at the 'G, the first time I think I had played at the MCG.

"It was an amazing moment and as I said, the connection we have had over our journey is something that I hold really sacred."

Stay tuned for the full interview between Tuohy and Stewart, which will be available on official Geelong Cats channels on Wednesday.