Cam Mooney reveals Cats’ secret of success

THE 2007 Grand Final ended a 44-year premiership drought for Geelong and Cam Mooney has revealed the secret.

Cats Premiership heroes Mark Thompson the coach and captain Tom Harley.

GEELONG’s 2007 AFL premiership will long be remembered by Cats fans.

Not only did it end a 44-year title drought for the club, but the Grand Final victory over Port Adelaide was the biggest in VFL/AFL history, the 119-point victory making it the most one-sided ever seen.

The Cats list was star-studded, containing the likes of Cameron Ling, Jimmy Bartel, Matthew Scarlett, Joel Selwood, Steve Johnson and Gary Ablett — not to mention the forward duo Cameron Mooney and Mathew Stokes.

Geelong celebrated the 10th anniversary of that premiership win when they met Port Adelaide at Simonds Stadium on Thursday night, and both Mooney and Stokes used the occasion to reveal the secret to the Cats’ success.

Mooney credited the Cats’ winning run to the brotherhood the club was able to form off the field. There was perhaps no greater example of that mateship than forwards Mooney and Stokes — and the pair revealed the unique way their combination was formed.

“Obviously we’ve got a really close bond and a good relationship,” Stokes told Fox Footy.

“A lot of people don’t realise how it began. Him (Mooney) and Kent Kingsley took me to a pub until about four in the morning — I hope Bomber (Mark Thompson) doesn’t find out about that.

“That was the start of our friendship and now we’re very close mates and like family. It was really special. I was a really young 21-year-old, to be able to do the premiership was special.”

Cameron Mooney and Mathew Stokes hug.

Mooney, revealed that he was tasked with introducing Stokes to the life of an AFL footballer when the youngster arrived at the club, something at which he was only moderately successful.

“The old man grabbed me and said ‘look after my boy’ and it was about midnight,” Mooney said.

“I said ‘I will, don’t worry’, five o’clock in the morning we stumble home and I haven’t been looking after him ever since.”

Despite his habit of burning the midnight oil, Mooney could still produce on the big stage. The Geelong forward led the way in the 2007 Grand Final, booting five goals.

However he had to watch as teammate Steve Johnson (who kicked four goals) claimed the North Smith Medal.

Cameron Mooney & Matthew Stokes complete a lap of Simonds Stadium.

Stokes would go on to play 200 career games, Mooney managing 221. The 2007 flag remains a memorable moment, given the years of heartache it washed away for Geelong.

“It is a special night. It was just an amazing year,” Mooney said.

“2007 was an incredible year for this crew with this footy club and I think now, a few years down the track you can see the efforts of what we did pretty clearly.

“It is very special to be here and just celebrate it with the fans who have been so magnificent to us and obviously the boys, who we don’t get to see too much these days.”

Originally published as Cam Mooney reveals Cats’ secret of success