There was one particular play that defined the 2009 Grand Final.
More specifically, one action.
It’s not an action taught at Auskick. It’s not something players practice at training.
It was inspired.
Matthew Scarlett’s toe-poke kick to Gary Ablett has become part of football folklore.
At this weekend’s match the club will celebrate 10-years since the 2009 premiership win.
It’s been a decade since the Cats beat St Kilda by 12-points.
The match was played on a cold and rainy September’s day in front of a crowd of 99,251.
Geelong supporters were still hurting from their grand final loss the previous year to Hawthorn, but could remember the feeling of premiership success from their 2007 win against Port Adelaide.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Cats were trailing the Saints by seven points.
The Saints hadn’t made the most of their opportunities having kicked nine goals and 11-points up until this stage.
A Tom Hawkins goal in the first two minutes of the final quarter gave the Cats the perfect start.
The following 20-minutes were a stalemate, with neither team able to put a goal on the board.
With five minutes remaining scores were tied at 67 apiece.
That’s when it happened.
A Zac Dawson spoil on Gary Ablett in the middle of the ground put the ball in contention.
Running in to be front-and-centre was Scarlett from the backline.
Instead of gathering the ball, Scarlett decided to kick it mid-air, just a short distance past Dawson and into the hands of Ablett.
The short distance meant a mark wasn’t paid so Ablett played on and put the ball on his boot from 80 metres out.
A pack flew, Travis Varcoe gathered and put the ball in the hands of Paul Chapman.
Chapman snapped on his left boot from just outside the goal square. The ball went high into the air and through for a goal. The Cats were in front.
A final goal after the siren to Max Rooke was the icing on the cake giving the Cats the win by two goals.
Chapman was named Norm Smith medallist for his 26-disposal, three-goal effort. Jimmy Bartlel had 16 tackles and 19 disposals and Harry Taylor kept St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt to one goal.
Three members of this premiership side are in the club’s current squad - Harry Taylor, Ablett and Tom Hawkins. Varcoe continued his career at Collingwood where he is still plays.
The remaining players from the victorious 2009 team will complete a lap of honour before this weekend’s match against the West Coast Eagles at 4.00pm.
