Geelong made sure it would be a night to remember for Corey Enright and Jimmy Bartel

COREY Enright and Jimmy Bartel have never coveted the attention their AFL careers have deserved, but there was simply no escaping it on Friday night.

Jimmy Bartel and Corey Enright. Picture: Michael Klein

COREY Enright and Jimmy Bartel have never coveted the attention their AFL careers have so richly deservedly, but there was simply no escaping it on Friday night.

There was a packed Simonds Stadium house; there were signs and banners hanging around the ground; there was the emotional run through the banner with their kids (Enright’s sons Boh and Tex, and Bartel’s son, Aston), and there was even a flurry of fireworks bursting over the venue as part of the celebratory theme.

And greeting both players with a handshake and good wishes as they ran out was 68-year-old former Geelong star Ian Nankervis, who was more than content to metaphorically hand over the games record mantle to Enright (326 games), and just as pleased to see Bartel become the fourth Cat to reach the 300-game milestone.

“They deserved it, they’ve been great players,” Nankervis said just seconds later. “I couldn’t be more pleased for them, both of them, for what they have done for the club.”

There were no fireworks — other than a few on-field ones — when Nankervis played his 325th and final game at the same venue in Round 22, 1983.

Jimmy Bartel and Corey Enright get chaired off. Picture: Michael Klein

Enright was not yet two at that time; Bartel was still four months short of being born. But that final round game 33 years ago was one that Nankervis wouldn’t recall fondly, as the Cats lost to the Hawks by 80 points.

That’s why Nankervis, down from his Buderim home on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, was nervous before the game — hopeful, expectant, happy to be there, but just praying for a Cats’ win.

Enright hardly needed any reminding that his 300th game in Round 12 last year — against Melbourne at Simonds Stadium — turned what was meant to be a party into anything but.

Jimmy Bartel takes a strong pack mark. Picture: Michael Klein

In fact, prior to Friday night, none of the three previous 300-game Cats — Nankervis, Sam Newman and Enright — had played in a win in their three-ton milestone matches.

As always, Enright, 34, started in defence. But his weekly ritual of having a joke with midfield coach Matthew Knights didn’t end in his milestone week.

“He’ll come past my office (each week) and ask me whether he’s a chance of getting a run in the midfield,” Knights said pre-game on AFL Live.

“I don’t think Scarlo (defensive coach Matthew Scarlett) would allow that.”

It took Enright 20 seconds to get his first possession and Bartel just over 60 seconds. But they were the first of many as the Cats worked overtime to try and stave off the brave but undermanned Bulldogs.

Corey Enright gets a handball away under pressure. Picture: Michael Klein

Bartel, 32, laid a trademark tackle in the first term, and while he started in the back half, he was just as effective when he was shifted to attack.

In keeping with their double act, both milestone men had 14 disposals each by half time. Bartel almost brought the house down with two near-misses in the third term. At the other end, Enright was ... well, he was typically Enright — cool, composed and almost unpassable.

And fittingly, just five seconds before the final siren, Bartel found himself deep in attack and the stadium erupted when his left-foot kick went through for the most anticipated goal of the night.

Ian Nankveris, and the rest of Geelong, got their wish. And the ‘Boris and Jimmy show’ ended as the script should have — with another reminder of just how good these two remarkable players have been, and still are.

Originally published as Geelong made sure it would be a night to remember for Corey Enright and Jimmy Bartel