GEELONG'S modern rivalry with Collingwood has been inspired by a number of key matches.
There was the epic preliminary final in 2007, then the remarkable home and away clash in round nine, 2008, when the Magpies thrashed the previously unbeaten Cats by 86 points.
"There's been a bit of a rivalry with Collingwood just because of the amount of big games we've played against them in the last seven or eight years," Steve Johnson reflected in an interview with CatsTV.
"They've always been right up near the top. They've given us a couple of good beltings, even when we've been right at the top of our game, and we haven't taken them too well.
"It just builds up over time … and we always look forward to playing them."
The rivalry went to another level in 2011. That year Collingwood suffered only three losses, but each of them was to Geelong.
The Cats and the Pies were both undefeated heading into their round eight clash at the MCG, and Chris Scott's men emerged with a three-point win, 8.17 (65) to 9.8 (62).
"It was a pretty special night," Jimmy Bartel said. "It was pretty windy that night, so scores were hard to come by."
The teams met again in round 24. Many pundits said before the game that it was a dead rubber, given both sides were locked in their positions on the ladder.
But Geelong did not treat the game in that manner. The Cats riot, with Daniel Menzel booting five brilliant goals as they won by 96 points.
"It was a great win for the boys, and it definitely gave all the boys confidence going into the finals that we were up there with the best teams," Menzel recalled.
Then came the Grand Final. It was a classic contest in the first half, and Collingwood held a three-point lead at the long break.
However, Geelong ran over the top of the Magpies in the second half, booting 10 goals to three to win by 38 points.
Jimmy Bartel, Tom Lonergan, Tom Hawkins and Steve Johnson were among the heroes for the Cats.
"Those two hours on Grand Final day changed so many people's lives," premiership captain Cameron Ling remembered in AFL Media's documentary about the game. "That's a huge thing that football can have that big an impact on their lives."
Since then, the rivalry has continued to mean plenty to both clubs' players and supporters.
"I think we enjoy playing Collingwood because we get to go to the 'G, and we all know how big their supporter base is," said Bartel, who will have to watch Friday night's contest from the stands due to the knee injury he suffered in round three.
"I think our players enjoy the occasion. Hopefully that rivalry continues so we get to be part of those big blockbusters and special days for many years."
