1998 was a big transition year for the Geelong Football Club. 

Gary Ablett Senior, Billy Brownless and Paul Couch all called time on their illustrious careers, Matthew Scarlett had just joined the club as a father-son selection, and the Cats were coming off a period where they had featured in seven Finals series in nine years. 

Geelong opened their season with a strong showing against the 1997 runners-up, St Kilda, falling narrowly short in an entertaining contest, but returned home in Round 2 for a crucial clash with Richmond. 

Determined to give the Cats faithful something to cheer about in their opening game at Kardinia Park, Geelong locked horns with the Tigers in what proved to be an entertaining contest in front of a packed house at the Cattery. 

'Rockin' Ronnie Burns gave the Cats the perfect start in the opening term, kicking a beauty on the run from a reasonably tight angle, signalling Geelong's intent early in the contest. 

Derek Hall also chipped in with his first major of the contest, but led by the familiar face of Brad Ottens who was wearing the yellow and black at the time, Richmond took a narrow one-point lead into quarter time. 

Burns continued to have a big impact shortly after the first break, kicking his second goal and then applying elite pressure which led to another Cats goal. 

With the home crowd urging them on, Geelong took control of the contest in the second term and despite some inaccuracy in front of the big sticks, they took a 15-point buffer into half time. 

The Cats reemerged after the main break looking to extend their lead and hoping to put the game on ice, but Richmond had other ideas as they closed the gap and took the game up a notch. 

Able to generate numerous chances, Mark Merenda and Ben Holland started to swing the match back in favour of the Tigers, the gap closing to just five points at the final break. 

The intensity was ratcheted up in the last quarter as the Cats looked for their first win of the 1998 season, the tension not eased when Merenda kicked the opening goal of the term and for a brief moment, scores were level. 

But with the pressure being mounted on, a pair of pivotal goals for Michael Mansfield proved to be vital, helping the Cats to reestablish a lead. 

The skipper, big Barry Stoneham, started to impose himself on the contest, before Burns took another opportunity to kick his third goal and the sealer. 

Brett Spinks would add one more late, as the Cats closed out an impressive 19-point victory over the Tigers. 

Sean Simpson was ultimately awarded the three Brownlow votes, Tim McGrath also featured in the votes, while 'Buddha' Hocking led the Cats with 24 disposals. 

1998 Round 2 – Geelong Cats v Richmond

GEELONG       4.2   8.8   10.8   14.15   (99)
RICHMOND    4.3   6.5    9.9   11.14   (80)

GOALS:  Hall, Burns 3, Mansfield, Lowther, Spinks 2, Stoneham, Biddiscombe 1

DISPOSALS: Hocking 24, Mansfield, Mensch 22, McGrath, Sanderson 20, Kilpatrick 19

BROWNLOW VOTES: Sean Simpson (3), Jason Torney (2), Tim McGrath (1)

GEELONG STARTING 22
1. Steven King
4. Jason Snell
7. Ben Graham
8. Ronnie Burns
9. Clint Bizzell
13. Glenn Kilpatrick
14. Brett Spinks
15. Peter Riccardi
17. Tim McGrath
19. Derek Hall
21. Michael Mansfield
26. Barry Stoneham
27. Brenton Sanderson
28. Martin McKinnon
29. Daniel Lowther
30. Craig Biddiscombe
31. David Mensch
32. Garry Hocking
33. Paul Corrigan
37. Sean Simpson
39. Darren Milburn
43. Tim Finocchiaro