How could one possibly describe Geelong in the 1990s to an individual that never experienced it?

The iconic waterfront was starting to take shape, the cornerstones of the community were the Ford Factory and the Shell Refinery, the sound of V8s rumbling down Moorabool Street and that tough, gritty feel that has always defined the town. 

And the people, the long-flowing mullets, the flannelette shirts and baggy tracksuits, the thick moustaches and kids out kicking the footy under street lights well after the sun had set.

But at the heart of it all, as has been the case no matter the generation, is the Geelong Football Club. 

The game also had a remarkably different look and feel in the 90s, with the oversized guernseys and the smaller shorts, the game was incredibly tough and the personalities were larger than life. 

A big part of that Geelong era was none other than Barry Stoneham, a dominant key position player with the ability to impact both ends of the ground, and he sat down with Cats Media in the build-up to Saturday's Retro Game against Essendon. 

"It is a massive day as you say, Retro Round, the 90s feel almost like 50 years ago, not 30 years ago," Stoneham joked when he sat down with Cats Media. 

"Being a Geelong person growing up, then coming down to the footy club in the late 80s. Playing in the 90s when Malcolm Blight took over as coach, we actually had three goes at it in the 90s; 92, 94 and 95 in the Grand Finals.

"Unfortunately we lost all of them, but it was still a successful era and time. I had a great time, enjoyed footy immensely back then.

"Malcolm's philosophy with footy was if they get 110 points, we get 111 and still win the game. It was mostly all-out attack, which in these days probably wouldn't work that well with the defensive side.

"The people I met, the people I played with, the people who worked at the footy club and some that are still here now, were awesome.

"It was a great time and a great era, and some great footballers who were probably some of the best footballers in the history of Geelong and the AFL."

The 1990s helped to lay the foundation for what the Geelong Football Club would ultimately become, an era of sustained competition built by some of the greatest names to ever pull on the Hoops. 

Players such as Gary Ablett Senior, Garry 'Buddha' Hocking, Paul Couch, Billy Brownless and Mark Bairstow to name a few, all running out alongside Stoneham and setting the stadium alight no matter where in the country they played. 

Along the journey there were some individual moments etched into the club's folklore, such as the record-breaking score against Brisbane in 1992, Billy's 'King of Geelong' moment in the 1994 Finals series, or Ablett's 'Hand of God' mark in the Prelim just a couple of weeks later. 

There was clearly the elephant in the room however with the absence of a premiership, the Cats coming so close on so many occasions but never able to clear that final hurdle. 

Stoneham reminisced on some of his fondest memories of the era, and how exciting it was to play in that immensely talented Geelong team. 

"Some of the Finals we played in were the most exciting Finals to play," Stoneham said. 

"In 89, just before the 90s, it was one of the better Grand Finals apart from the result. It was just an amazing attacking, hard-hitting Grand Final.

"I think you take it for granted a bit when you look back, playing with Ablett Senior. I was with him for 10 years in the same forward line for most of the games.

"When you look back and see how good he was, you see tapes of him in the past and think wow, we played with that guy. He was if not the best, one of the best ever, at Geelong but also in the V/AFL.

"You cherish those moments, the 'Hand of God' in the Prelim. Billy [Brownless] keeps on talking about his own goal against Footscray, so there were some great moments.

"There were some great moments and some really high scores. We have got the highest score in history still, the record still stands from up at Carrara against Brisbane.

"There were just some great players; Peter Riccardi, Garry 'Buddha' Hocking with four best and fairests, 'Couchy,' Mark Bairstow, you could go on. We had a really good connection with all of those players."

After not making a Grand Final for over two decades, the Cats could not stop making them following their drought-breaking appearance in the 1989 decider, going on to feature in four Grand Finals in a seven year span. 

With the ability to win nearly every game they played in, Stoneham noted that it could not have been more exciting to be an AFL footballer and more importantly, a Geelong footballer in that era. 

"We always thought we were a chance every game, because we were a strong team all the way through," Stoneham said. 

"We might have had one off year, I think in 1990 we missed the Finals. In those early 90s in particular, coming off the 89 Grand Final we dropped a bit.

"From there on, we were one of the better teams. So to run out alongside those players was fantastic. You knew that they had your back as well, the midfield we had along with Damian Bourke who was captain for a while.

"Then having a forward line of Gary, Billy, Bruce Lindner, Gavin Exell, some of those names just roll off the tongue.

"Looking back, we had State footy in the 90s as well. State footy back then meant you would play on a Tuesday night, usually at Footy Park, the WACA or Subiaco.

"You would play Saturday here, play Tuesday night and then be back here the following Saturday. Playing with your teammates, but also playing with other opponents in the same team was a remarkable time."

While he was quick to deflect the attention onto his teammates, Stoneham had a remarkable career in his own right and was one of Geelong's most important players in an era full of superstars. 

After starting his career in 1986, the big Cat went on to spend 15 years with the club and played 241 games, before retiring at the end of 2000 following Geelong's exit from September. 

Along the journey there were numerous accolades, including a Carji Greeves Medal, an All-Australian selection, State representative honours and for four seasons, he had the honour of captaining the club. 

Reflecting on his career, Stoneham said it is surreal to see how far the game has evolved, but also that there was a sense of pride around what he achieved through his playing days. 

"It is funny, once you have been out of the game for a long period of time, and I have been retired for 26 years, it is hard to imagine yourself playing footy again and how you actually did it," Stoneham told Cats Media with a smile. 

"You watch the guys now, they are obviously so fit and athletic and you think how did I play that game?

"I was proud of my career, I was rapt to be the captain of the footy club.

"It would have been great to be captain when I was at the peak of my career. I had some injuries when I took on the captaincy, for a year and a half I was out then coming back, I was still playing but not to where I would have preferred to be in terms of peak performance.

"It was still great to be the captain of the club from 95 to 98, so to be seen as a leader of the club is a proud moment. Especially being a Geelong person, which growing up watching Geelong when I was five, six, seven years old.

"To sit back now at 58 and to say yeah I was captain, it is a proud moment for sure."