Grand finals are sometimes won in moments and five ensured Geelong’s golden era, writes Cam Mooney

Grand finals are often won in big moments and five in particular ensured Geelong’s golden era, writes Cam Mooney.

Grand finals are sometimes won in moments.

And as a Cat, five come to mind during our golden era from 2007 to 11, which either set the tone, the standard or shifted momentum in favour of the hoops.

In fifth place, ruckman Brad Ottens’ inspirational first quarter chase down of Port Adelaide’s Michael Pettigrew got us humming in 07.

It’s crazy to think at that stage we were only 15 points up with just over two minutes to go in the opening quarter, considering we eventually won by 119 points.

We’d put the first couple of goals on the board but it felt a lot closer than that, with the Power having the opening few shots at goal.

Brad Ottens and Paul Chapman celebrate a goal in the 2007 grand final.

Then “Otto” chased down Pettigrew along the boundary line by the 50m arc, and you just knew we were away.

It felt like a big moment.

Watching the match two days later on Mad Monday, the whole place erupted when Otto’s tackle appeared on the screen.

Then, four years later in 2011 against Collingwood, Travis Varcoe’s second goal was also a massive moment.

Sitting in the grandstand, it was an intense game to watch.

Cats coach Mark Thompson is embraced by Max Rooke after winning the 2009 grand final.

But after giving off a handball in the defensive 50, Trav ran the length of the ground to snap one of the best goals of the day.

It felt like Collingwood didn’t have any answers after that.

In that same match, James Podsiadly going down with a shoulder injury was momentous, as it opened the door for Tom Hawkins to finally emerge as Geelong’s number one forward.

He became the man that day and has remained ever since down at Kardinia Park.

My second biggest moment came in one of the truly great grand finals of the modern era, the 2009 classic against St Kilda.

James Podisadly and Cameron Ling after the 2011 grand final.

Even though it almost repeated our nightmare of the previous season against Hawthorn.

Late in the final term, stationed at centre half forward, I watched the mercurial Stevie Johnson centre the ball to Gary Ablett Jr in the middle

My man, St Kilda defender Zac Dawson, came off me and made a truly great play to spoil the ball.

I remember thinking to myself: “Crap, I’ve cost us another grand final”.

But then came the greatest toe poke in AFL history from Matthew Scarlett to Gaz, who would launch the ball inside 50.

Running inside the arc, I remember thinking: “Here’s my chance for redemption for 12 months earlier”.

Matthew Scarlett’s toe poke led to a Geelong goal late in the 2009 grand final.

I flew for the mark, but Max Rooke comes the other way and completely takes me out.

Fortunately, the ball spilled to Varcoe who gave it to Chapman and the rest is history.

I remember Chappy’s shot going over my head and knowing we were going to be hard to beat from there, as we had dominated the quarter.

I recall at the final break our coach Mark Thompson saying words to the effect of: remember how you felt this time last year walking off the field without a medal, don’t let it happen again.

There’s no question losing 12 months prior to the Hawks made us a harder team than the Saints in that final term, and they went harder than most.

However, my biggest moment was another tackle, from a man I mentioned before, Max Rooke.

Max Rooke tackles Raph Clarke in the 2009 grand final.

He didn’t have a heap of stats in the 09 grand final, but his tackle on Raph Clarke, which led to the opening goal of the game, typified his approach in September.

We weren’t the best team that year, or for most of the day, but acts like that were the reason we won.

Rooke was so hard, determined, courageous and vicious; watch the tape back and you’ll understand why he was my best on ground that day.

So there you have it, the team that wins the big moments usually takes the flag home.

I’m genuinely torn on who I think can win on Saturday, but if it’s close you have to go with who you trust in those situations, and so that’s why I’m backing the Pies by eight points.

They just have to seize their moment.

Originally published as Grand finals are sometimes won in moments and five ensured Geelong’s golden era, writes Cam Mooney