On Friday night the Cats will meet arch rival Hawthorn at GMHBA Stadium for the first time in 14 years.
It will be a significant occasion for star midfielder Patrick Dangerfield who will play his 250th AFL game.
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He may have only of played 95 of his 249 AFL games to date at Geelong, but his influence cannot be understated.
Since joining the Cats in 2016, Dangerfield has won three Carji Greeves Medals (2016, 2017 and 2019), a Brownlow Medal (2016) and featured in the All Australian every year since his arrival at the club.
We thought it was only fitting ahead of his milestone game to take a look at the Geelong players who have made a significant impact in guernsey number 35.
Paul Chapman
Better known as ‘Chappy’. Paul Chapman was a key cog in Geelong’s premiership era between 2007 and 2011.
He was particularly influential in 2009 against the Saints, kicking the match winning goal and receiving the coveted Norm Smith Medal.
He went on to amass 251 games and kick 336 goals. He won the Carji Greeves Medal in 2006 and was named All Australian on two occasions (2009 and 2010).
Billy Goggin
Played 248 games and kicked 279 goals for the Cats between 1958 and 1971.
Goggin was named at rover in Geelong’s Team of the Century after an outstanding career.
He was instrumental in Geelong 1963 premiership winning side and a dual best and fairest winner (1967 and 1970).
Goggin was not only a fine player but leader too, captaining the club from 1968 to 1971.
Robert Neal
Neal played 200 games and kicked 51 goals for Geelong between 1974 and 1986, before going on to add another 20 games at St Kilda.
Nicknamed Scratcher, Neal was only 17-years-old when he made his debut for the Cats against Melbourne in round 15, 1974. The Cats won that match by 20 points in front of 10,881 fans.
He quickly made a name for himself and was regarded as one of the finest wingmen of his generation, boasting explosive pace and elite disposal.
Neal is a member of the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame.
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The information within this article was provided by Col Hutchinson.
