Geelong and Melbourne will meet in the first Elimination Final of 2018, but it won’t be the first time these two sides have met in a final this century.

Just one win separates the two teams heading into Friday night’s blockbuster, but things were even closer in 2005.

Geelong had finished the year sixth with 12 wins, while the Dees finished seventh with 12 wins. Just 16.2 percent separated the two sides.

With three rounds remaining in the AFL season, the two sides faced off in a Kardinia Park thriller.

Matthew Egan missed a shot after the siren to win the game for Geelong as Melbourne held on by one point, setting the scene for winner takes all first week of the finals.

Geelong stamped their dominance early come finals time, as they slotted five goals to two in the opening quarter to lead by 19 points at quarter time.

The Cats kept their momentum going into the second quarter, piling on a further seven goals to four to extend the lead out to six goals by half time.

Melbourne were kept goalless in the premiership quarter as the Cats kicked away from the Demons, putting the game beyond doubt to lead by 10 goals at the final change.

Cameron Mooney was adjudged best on ground with 26 disposals, 11 marks and two goals as the Cats eased off the accelerator in the last to finish the game 55-point victors.

Jimmy Bartel (30 disposals), Gary Ablett (19 and three goals) and Cameron Ling (23 and two goals) also performed strongly for Geelong.

Russell Robertson slotted four goals for the Demons, while Nathan Brown had 27 disposals and 13 marks.

The Cats went on to face Sydney in the semi-final, while the Demons made finals again in 2006, but have been missing from September since then.