Geelong's incredible record stretches across most of this century but on Thursday night, they secured their 13th preliminary final in 18 years.
Dating back to 2007, when the Cats ended their 44-year premiership drought, they have been near-invincible, remaining toward the top of the ladder ever since.
Throughout that time, they reached the top of the mountain alongside pop classics like Umbrella (2007) by Rihanna,ย Poker Face (2009) by Lady Gaga,ย Party Rock Anthem (2011) by LMFAO and the more modern, recognisable tuneย Heat Waves (2022) by Glass Animals.
All top-end Billboard songs in Geelong premiership years.
But as times change and styles evolve, the Cats have been able to do the same, debunking the AFL's rebuilding myth.
Since 2007, they have missed two finals series (2015, 2023).
They've recycled players and brought in bargain buys that have proven to strike gold, reflected by the seven-finals debutants on Thursday night, all of which played pivotal roles.
Shaun Mannagh, Jack Bowes, Lawson Humphries, Ollie Henry, Oliver Dempsey, Shannon Neale and late-inclusion Oisin Mullin got to experience life on the big stage.
In September 2023, Shaun Mannagh kicked six in a losing VFL Grand Final.
Lawson Humphries was playing in the WAFL reserves Grand Final.
Tonight, they were magnificent ๐ฅ#AFLFinals | #AFLPowerCats pic.twitter.com/4pSr9M91Pb
— AFL (@AFL) September 5, 2024
"They haven't shown any signs of getting ahead of themselves, which I think is the most important thing, but they haven't shown any signs of being overawed," coach Chris Scott said of the group.
"But it's the biggest test they've had so far and it's nice to see them come through it.
"It's easy to say it's just another game, but you'd have to be not paying attention if you didn't realise at least the stakes.
"You just have so many people in your ear telling you how different it is, and our job internally is to remind them that it's not that different."
Geelong has found a winner in Dempsey, who throughout the past fortnight was named as the 2024 Rising Star recipient while plucking Humphries and Mannagh from reserves levels is something only few could do.
Tyson Stengle kicked four goals (three in the first half) and has repaid the Cats for their faith in him.
Tanner Bruhn and Jack Bowes are thriving at new clubs as Max Holmes showed why he could be the brightest prospect in the game.
Scott and the Cats have always done it different. Done it their own way.
But Thursday night's performance could arguably be the two-time premiership coach's greatest yet, in spite of his incredible record.
After failing to make finals in 2023, the line was drawn through Geelong and their era, but as they have done before, they've proven the doubters wrong.
