WITH the Cats out of the finals for the first time in the best part of a decade, Geelong supporters have had to spend this year's finals series reliving glories from the past.

And those with a keen eye for history would no doubt have noticed that the 90-year anniversary of the club's first VFL is almost upon us.

On October 10, 1925, Geelong defeated Collingwood in a spirited Grand Final that was played before a then-record crowd of 64,288 at the MCG.

The victory marked a return to prominence for Geelong.

The club had been a powerhouse in the old Victorian Football Association, winning seven premierships between 1878 and 1886. But it had found the going much tougher since helping found the VFL in 1897.

That all changed in 1925. Under the leadership of captain-coach Cliff Rankin, who was in his first season at the helm, the Cats won 15 of their 17 games and ended the home and away season in top spot on the ladder.

Their star forward, Lloyd Hagger, topped the VFL’s goalkicking table with 78.

Under the finals system in vogue at the time, Rankin’s team played third-placed Melbourne in a semi-final, while second-placed Essendon took on fourth-placed Collingwood in another semi.

The Demons scored an upset win over Geelong, while the Magpies defeated the Bombers.

Melbourne and Collingwood then met in a game that is these days referred to as a preliminary final, and the Magpies prevailed by 10 points.

As a prize for finishing on top of the ladder, the Cats were subsequently able to challenge Collingwood in a ‘Grand Final’.

The city of Geelong was abuzz on the day of the game. Factories and shops closed early to allow people time to travel to the MCG by train.

Rankin played a starring role in attack as his team snared a 17-point half-time lead.

With half-forward Jack Chambers and full-back Keith Johns also dominant, the Cats were 25 points clear by three-quarter time.

They failed to kick a goal in the last quarter, but they were still 10 points up when the final bell was rung.

According to the reports published in the days after the game, there were scenes of extraordinary jubilation in the Geelong rooms.

It was noted in The Age that none of the Cats players had been born when the club had won its previous premiership 29 years earlier.

It had been a long wait, but the club from Corio Bay was finally back on top.

This article was first published in the Grand Final edition of the AFL Record. The newsstand edition is on sale now