It doesn't feel like we have built up a particular rivalry with the Cats, but the Goodwin-Scott era between the clubs has been epic. And may still have another chapter to play out this year . . . Three after-the-siren shots in seven encounters and close to a fourth. A couple huge comebacks, momentum swings, bursts of goals, and some seriously tight affairs. The same on-field protagonists popping up in various ways. Here's a brief summary: (please add your own bits to the story-line, the players and subplots etc.) 

Recent background

2011 (Kardinia)

Geelong propel us into our darkest of dark ages with a 186-point drubbing. At that point of the season we were still in the hunt for the finals.  

2015 (Kardinia) 

A gutsy away win at the Cat’s fortress, in a game that marked the emergence of Max Gawn and the biggest scalp to date of a reemerging MFC. 

2016 (Kardinia)

The Cats close out our season of renewed hope by sending Paul Roos off with a 111-point thrashing. 

Goodwin vs Scott era

2017 (Docklands)

A young, buoyant and attacking Melbourne outfit newly coached by Simon Goodwin runs with the Cats all day, opening up a 15-point lead at the 30-min mark of the 3rd – before the Cats’ class simply steamrolls us, piling on five goals in about as many minutes either side of the break

2018

Rnd 1 (MCG)

A ripping season opener, with 70 points kicked in the first term and numerous momentum swings throughout the day. A Hogan goal at the midway point of the last puts us within a goal, after which neither team can manage to goal. Max hooks left from around 20 out in front at the siren. 

Rnd 18 (Kardinia)

A tight, tense affair, with continuously less than a goal separating the teams until mid-way through the 3rd, when a late flourish sees Melbourne open up a 30-point lead early in the last – a lead which is wiped away in the space of about five minutes heading toward the half-way mark. The tension mounts again, before ultimately a sting of possessions from deep in defence with 25 seconds to go sees Tuohy kick the winner after the siren. The loss knocks Melbourne from the top 8 with five rounds to go. 

Elimination Final (MCG) 

A young Melbourne team, mostly on finals debut, brutally bullies the experienced Cats into submission, with a 5 to 0 goal opening term putting an end to Geelong’s season. Jones kicks the sealer. 

2019 (Kardinia)

An 80-point thrashing, including a 14 goal to 3 second-half, lets Demon fans know that something has gone horribly, horribly wrong in the off-season. 

2020 (MCG)

Coming off an unexpected bye, the Demons trail all day in an uninspiring, low-scoring encounter, as affairs in Melbourne are starting to look grim. Nevertheless, a late pick-up in intensity sees Melbourne edge to within a goal toward the end, before new recruit Tomlinson misses a challenging set-shot at the death. 

2021 (Kardinia)

Following a stirring 44-point comeback, the now captain of the footy club Max Gawn caps an epic final term with a goal after the siren to hand the MFC its first minor premiership in 57 years. 

One point. My memory fails - that first missed Max shot against Geelong in 2018, I vaguely recall that it wasn't technically after the siren? And can anyone recall how much time was left on the clock for the Tomlinson miss last year? 

3 minutes ago, Skuit said:

One point. My memory fails - that first missed Max shot against Geelong in 2018, I vaguely recall that it wasn't technically after the siren? And can anyone recall how much time was left on the clock for the Tomlinson miss last year? 

9 secs left after max missed in 2018 and I think we still had a small opportunity after they kicked it in

Their playing careers crossed over a fair few years too, wonder if they ever had any run ins back in the day?

 

10 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Their playing careers crossed over a fair few years too, wonder if they ever had any run ins back in the day?

 

Had considered adding something to that effect. Brisbane knocked Adelaide out of the finals in consecutive years in 2002 and 2003. But I don't recall any on-field stuff between the pair, and there doesn't seem to be any animosity at least. 

I think it is hilarious that until this year Goodwin vs Scott was 0% wins in home and away and 100% wins in finals.

Going back a bit further the Melbourne-Geelong history still holds.

Round 21, 2006 - 94-94 Draw. Other results went our way in the final two rounds so it didn't decide whether we played finals, but missing the win did end Geelong's finals chances and the game itself was desperate and magnificent.

Round 20, 2005 - 100-99 Win. Featuring a seven goal haul from Russell Robertson. This and the next two games were all must win to regain our place in finals after a roller-coaster season emotionally charged by the loss of Troy Broadbridge. Clearly emotionally exhausted, just three weeks later we we easily bundled out of the finals by none other than Geelong.

Round 21, 2000 - 126-108 Win. At the 'G for a change, and in front of 75,000 fans, Melbourne directly seized a top 4 spot from Geelong which we held onto in the final round.

In every season this century (including 2000) in which Melbourne have played finals, there has been a crucial late-season game against Geelong.

Anyway, there's a pretty fair chance we will play them in finals;

- meet in prelim if one side loses qual then wins their semi while the other side wins their qual.

OR

- both sides win their qual and prelim to get into the grand final.

OH HELL IT IS FINALLY DAWNING ON ME THAT WE ARE PLAYING A QUALIFYING FINAL AGAINST BRISBANE THIS COMING WEEKEND AND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.

 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Skuit said:

One point. My memory fails - that first missed Max shot against Geelong in 2018, I vaguely recall that it wasn't technically after the siren? And can anyone recall how much time was left on the clock for the Tomlinson miss last year? 

40 seconds left on the clock when Tomlinson took his shot last year.

Also you've missed Round 4 this year in your summary. We were pretty good that day.

I recently watched an ESPN doco on the Lakers vs Celtics rivalry in the NBA. I loved it as a Lakers devotee, but I noticed that there may be an aspect of that rivalry in the one emerging between us and the Cats.

That is that despite our much improved talent pool, we are the Lakers to their Celtics (though we’ve won more flags) in one aspect.

To Geelong, we are like the LA ‘Fakers’; a team of coddled pretty boys who turn their toes up when the heat is on, and the bunnies for the match hardened, ruthless Celtics. 

I’m hoping efforts like last night have started to change perceptions and gain true respect, but they may still linger. It was 6 years ago that Selwood was telling Nate that he was the worst captain in the AFL, and they were confident enough to try to boisterously remind Maxy of his miss in round 1, 2018 as he kicked for goal.

I get the feeling that won’t happen until we beat them in a match of real significance (Prelim or GF). The Elimination final, as big as it was, felt like a transition year for the Cats. They weren’t at their absolute peak. 

Edited August 22, 20213 yr by Colin B. Flaubert

It just occurred to me that Max was a key feature of the 2017 match vs Geelong as well - his going down with a serious hammy likely costing us a finals berth and himself six consecutive AA blazers. 

2 hours ago, Skuit said:

It just occurred to me that Max was a key feature of the 2017 match vs Geelong as well - his going down with a serious hammy likely costing us a finals berth and himself six consecutive AA blazers. 

Oh yeah, Tim Smith had to tuck from HFF in his fist game - I think

Before Goodwin v Scott but at kardinia a Melbourne player lost their kidney in a brutal clash on the wing. All fair, both just going for the footy. Was it Brad Miller? I can't remember. Had too many beers with the Geelong ferals.

3 minutes ago, Wrecker46 said:

Before Goodwin v Scott but at kardinia a Melbourne player lost their kidney in a brutal clash on the wing. All fair, both just going for the footy. Was it Brad Miller? I can't remember. Had too many beers with the Geelong ferals.

It was Cat’s Tom Lonergan, off a bump from Brad Miller.

1 hour ago, radar said:

Oh yeah, Tim Smith had to tuck from HFF in his fist game - I think

Did a double take on this, have to admit

2 hours ago, radar said:

Oh yeah, Tim Smith had to tuck from HFF in his fist game - I think

Auto correct - haha

Smith had to ruck in his first game 😅

As it should be - the two oldest clubs should have moments like that

Clayton Oliver has played in all of the Goodwin-Scott era clashes against Geelong and averages 33 disposals including 101 kicks  - the most against any opposition in both categories. Also the most 1%ers and second-most clearances (noted that Geelong used to be confident to concede them), and top-3 in a bunch of other stats. Gawn also maxes out in a few categories vs Geelong, including hit-outs, kicks, i50s, and contested possessions (according to AFL Tables). Bring on the prelim!

Well, this friday should be an interesting addition.