As 2019 comes to a close we look back at some of the top moments of the decade.
The 2011 premiership aside, you will find it hard to find a more popular moment than Gary Ablett Junior's return to Geelong in 2018.
The little master was taken by the Cats as a father-son selection in the 2001 draft. He played 192 games across nine seasons, was a dual premiership player and Brownlow Medallist before deciding to join the Gold Coast Suns in their inaugural season.
The romanticism surrounding his family’s connection to the club saw him regularly linked to making his return to the club.
In 2018 that became a reality when Geelong arranged a trade with the Suns and sealed the return of the prodigal son.
It was a move that generated a lot of excitement amongst the younger players.
“I remember all of us younger kids getting so excited for him to return,” Esava Ratugolea said.
Geelong fans had to wait until Round 10 of the 2018 season to see Ablett run out onto GMHBA Stadium.
It was a moment that many fans had dreamed of but didn’t truly believe it would happen.
In his first home game since departing for Gold Coast at the end of 2010, Ablett's trademark poise and skills were on display in front of a sold-out crowd.
It didn’t take long for Ablett to get the crowd to rise as one when he kicked Geelong’s second goal of the game early in the opening term.
He went on to produce a dominant performance and generated plenty of optimism for the season ahead. Helping the Cats to a 28-point victory against the Blues.
