Retro Round is a chance to celebrate football's history, but for former Geelong defender Tim McGrath, it also highlights just how much the game has changed. From the way players prepared to the demands placed on their bodies, the AFL of the 1990s looked vastly different to the competition we see today.

Like many players of his era, McGrath balanced life on and off the field, working full-time while pursuing his AFL dream. Having arrived at Geelong from North Melbourne unsure whether he would make it at the highest level, there was never any guarantee of a long career.

Preparation was also very different from the detailed analysis players receive today. Instead of individual edits and opposition breakdowns, clubs relied on a single VCR tape that offered a general overview of the upcoming opponent.

"It was all about learning on the run and getting better, training a bit harder and getting a bit fitter."

Without endless vision to review, players were forced to learn through experience. If you were beaten, you remembered how it happened, took mental notes and worked to improve the following week.

McGrath also credits the senior players around him for helping shape his career, with one teammate standing above the rest.

"I really loved Barry Stoneham…our game revolved around Barry Stoneham."

"He was a freak of an athlete."

Watching Stoneham compete against some of the game's biggest names gave younger players a benchmark to strive for. Learning alongside footballers of that calibre helped set the standards that would continue to drive McGrath throughout his career.

Some memories remain as vivid as ever. His AFL debut came against Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall, while another afternoon at the MCG in 1993 is impossible to forget.

Originally told he would line up on Essendon spearhead Paul Salmon, the plans changed during the game.

"Salmon still kicked 10 and Ablett (Sr) kicked 14.7 down the other end and we got beat."

McGrath also witnessed the emergence of a generation that would go on to define Geelong's golden era. At the time, however, there was little indication of just how successful that young group would become.

"As we went through and got better and better, those kids by the end of the year just got better and better and better."

Jimmy Bartel, Gary Ablett Jr, James Kelly, Steve Johnson and Paul Chapman would eventually become club champions, but McGrath admits nobody expected the remarkable careers that followed.

While the game has changed dramatically, McGrath still loves watching the Cats each week. Like many supporters, there are aspects that can be frustrating, but his appreciation for the modern athlete has only grown.

"Can be frustrating watching the game in general at times."

"The game itself is unbelievable, the skill the fitness."

Having played in an era where players simply fronted up every week, McGrath understands why today's footballers are managed differently. The speed of the game and the force of modern collisions place enormous demands on players.

"The impact on their bodies is huge."

His passion for Geelong remains as strong as ever, and he enjoys watching the club's emerging talent. As a former wearer of the No.17 guernsey, he has taken particular notice of Lawson Humphries, while another young Cat has also caught his eye.

"With Lawson he's probably been the only player who wore 17 that can actually kick both feet well."

"Love Connor O'Sullivan…He'll play 250 games. He's a star."

Retro Round is about celebrating the players and moments that shaped the game, but McGrath's connection with football continues today. Spending one day a week completing work experience at Geelong, he hopes to return to the AFL in a player development role and pass on the lessons he learned throughout his career.