Feature: Time Cat-Sule | The Epic 2009 Showdown Between Geelong and St Kilda
Reflecting on one of the most memorable home-and-away matches, the 2009 clash between Geelong and St Kilda stands out for its sheer excitement and intensity. The game, played in Round 14, featured two undefeated teams that were dominating the season. Both squads had surged ahead of the competition, leading by four games over the third-placed team, setting the stage for a dramatic encounter.
Marvel Stadium hosted a record-breaking crowd of 54,444 eager fans, highlighting the significance of the match. It was a high-stakes game that drew a massive audience, all eager to witness this heavyweight duel.
Cameron Ling, a player from that game, recently discussed it on the Geelong Cats podcast, ‘To the Final Bell’. He reminisced about the game’s high speed and intensity, stating it was one of the fastest and most dynamic matches he had ever played. Ling admitted that even after watching the replay during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was impressed by the team’s ball movement and the frenetic pace of the game. Despite acknowledging the game’s sensational nature, he expressed disappointment over the loss, wishing the Cats had secured a win.
The match began with St Kilda asserting dominance, scoring the first five goals and putting Geelong on the back foot. The Cats gradually began to regain momentum in the first half. After halftime, the teams traded goals, but Geelong struggled to close the gap and trailed by 23 points with just under 13 minutes left in the final quarter.
In a dramatic turn, Geelong managed to score five goals in just 11 minutes, with Mathew Stokes leveling the score with under five minutes remaining. However, the final twist came when St Kilda’s Michael Gardiner took a crucial mark and kicked the winning goal, securing a thrilling victory for the Saints.
This game remains one of the greatest home-and-away matches in AFL history. However, Geelong had their revenge later in the year. They clinched their eighth premiership by defeating St Kilda by 12 points in the Grand Final.
Here are the match details from Round 14, 2009:
– St Kilda: 5.3, 8.4, 10.5, 14.7 (91)
– Geelong: 2.2, 5.5, 8.7, 13.7 (85)
Goals for Geelong: Ablett, Milburn, Mooney (2 each), Chapman, Selwood, Corey, Mackie, Stokes, Varcoe, Rooke (1 each)
Top Disposals: Chapman (39), Bartel (37), Selwood, Enright (30 each), Ablett, Corey (27 each)
Brownlow Votes: Michael Gardiner (3), Jimmy Bartel (2), Nick Riewoldt (1)
Crowd: 54,444 at Marvel Stadium (an AFL record)
Geelong Starting 22:
– 2. Tom Harley
– 3. Jimmy Bartel
– 4. Andrew Mackie
– 5. Travis Varcoe
– 7. Harry Taylor
– 9. James Kelly
– 11. Joel Corey
– 14. Joel Selwood
– 17. Shannon Byrnes
– 21. Cameron Mooney
– 24. Mark Blake
– 26. Tom Hawkins
– 27. Mathew Stokes
– 29. Gary Ablett
– 30. Matthew Scarlett
– 33. Max Rooke
– 34. Simon Hogan
– 35. Paul Chapman
– 39. Darren Milburn
– 41. Shane Mumford
– 44. Corey Enright
– 45. Cameron Ling
