1911: Cats v Dons
We turn back the pages to when the Cats played the Bombers back in 1911.
Back in 1911, when the first electric self-start mechanism was installed in a Cadillac and the Australian Navy was first founded, the Essendon Football Club sadly defeated Geelong at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground in Round 15.
That year Essendon went on to win the premiership by six points against Collingwood at the MCG.
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Although Geelong was taken down by 26-points against the Bombers, many who played that day have left a fundamental mark on the Geelong Football Club and have gone down as Geelong greats.
Significant members include Joe Slater, Dick Grigg and brothers Alec and Bill Eason. They have all been listed as champions in their own right.
Bill Eason was the first footballer to play 200 VFL games and his brother Alec, who was missing two fingers on his right hand, was also a talented footballer, and everyone knew him as ‘Bunny’ because of his speed.
Dick Grigg was also out on the field that day against Essendon in 1911. Grigg has been named in Geelong’s Team of the Century and was recently elevated to legend status in the Geelong Hall of Fame.
Another Geelong great who played was Joe Slater. Slater was named as a half back flanker in Geelong’s official ‘Team of the Century’.
He was an all-round player who mainly served in defence, however, he was well known for his extraordinary drop kick goal from the centre at Punt Road Oval. Documents suggest he kicked it from 77.72 metres out from goal.
Sadly when Slater reached his prime, he was shot down in WW1 during action in Bullecourt, France. It’s believed that Geelong fans, who were on their way to Corio Oval for a match, turned home in grief when they heard the news of his death.