IN my lifetime, Melbourne has played at Geelong 28 times in home and away matches.

For the record, that’s since 1977.

Given the first VFL/AFL match I watched live was in 1982 – between Melbourne and Footscray at Waverley Park (the Demons won by two points that day) – I’ve had four opportunities in my lifetime to see the red and blue win at Kardinia Park.

The fact I’ll be 40 next year – I’ve still got a 39^th birthday to crack later in the year – shows it’s been rare. It’s certainly not a boastful stat. It’s simply a fact and highlights how incredibly rare it’s been. Even long before I was around, Melbourne has battled to win at the Cattery. Since 1967, the Demons have won just six times from 37 matches down the highway and one draw has come in that period.

So my first opportunity to see Melbourne win at Geelong was in 1983.

I was in my second year of watching VFL/AFL matches ‘live’, but I’m not sure how many matches I went to that year – maybe two or three at best. I didn’t go to the game. I was only six years old, lived at least two hours away from the Cattery and my memory of this match is sketchy at best. I do remember Kelvin Templeton kicking a bag. In fact upon further research I noticed Brownlow medallists Templeton (eight goals) and Brian Wilson (four) starred, along with current Melbourne recruiter, pro scout Kelly O’Donnell (28 disposals). 

I can remember 1988 a little bit better, most likely listening to it on the radio, before watching the Saturday night reply. Surely, Channel 7 would’ve shown that match on TV, right!? (Yes, there was a time, when you couldn’t watch every match on TV!)

David Williams (coincidentally I always remember him, because I share the same birthday as him – not year) kicked five goals. He was a good player Williams, until knee injuries ruined his career. Wilson again shone with 30 touches, as did Brett Lovett with 29 disposals.

I remember listening to updates from the 1994 clash on the bus during my year 12 Central Australia school trip. I can distinctly remember Melbourne leading at three quarter-time – and thinking this six-year streak would be over – but alas the Demons were overrun in the final quarter and lost by 30 points.

In round one, 1995, ‘The Wiz’ (aka Jeff Farmer) made his AFL debut down at Geelong. But again, the Demons were denied.

I remember making the trip down the highway in 1996, with a great mate and his Dad. We saw Andrew Leoncelli make his AFL debut and Alastair Clarkson (of the three-time premiership coach kind) collect a team-high 27 disposals. But the most memorable thing from that 58-point loss was the performance of the high-flying Shaun Smith, who held Gary Ablett Snr to just two behinds in a memorable display down back.

But it wasn’t until 2005, when I covered the match for afl.com.au, that I saw Melbourne defeat Geelong for the first time ‘live’ at the Cattery. It’s fair to say it was one of the few times in that role that the inner Demon was well and truly alive. All journos support a team – and some have been legendary in their ‘barracking’ in the press box. Some well-respected footy journos have gone bananas over the years when their side hasn’t played to their likening. But for yours truly, it was one memorable win.

It was a cracking match.

Russell Robertson, now a friend and colleague, played a blinder. He kicked seven goals on Matthew Scarlett (probably the greatest full-back I’ve seen) and Max Rooke (then Jared Rooke). It was a mighty performance given both were key parts of Geelong’s most stunning era.

That win was as memorable as I can remember for Melbourne – other than wins in finals. There have been a host of other fantastic home and away wins over the journey, particularly from 1987-2006, but that was a phenomenal win.

In 2006, it was another cracker, but this time, it was a draw.

Those two seasons – 2005-06 – produced fascinating Melbourne and Geelong clashes, from a red and blue perspective. The 2005 win was Melbourne’s most recent over Geelong at Kardinia Park until Sunday. And 2006 was the club’s latest victory over Geelong, until this round.

So it highlights the significance of Melbourne’s win at the Cattery.

Granted, it was one match – and one win doesn’t make a season.

But given where this club has been in recent seasons, this is a significant scalp. It probably eclipses the win in Adelaide last year, which was Melbourne’s first in South Australia since 2001.

Still, Melbourne wasn’t meant to beat Geelong on Sunday. But it did.

It bucked the trend in so many ways.

The Demons fielded a far younger team in both age and matches, plus it had 12-listed players out through injury – the most it’s had sidelined for one particular round this year.

And there was some fair talent out, with Sam Frost, Colin Garland, Jack Grimes, Jesse Hogan, Jayden Hunt, Dean Kent, Ben Newton, Cameron Pedersen, Christian Petracca, Christian Salem, Jack Trengove and Aaron vandenBerg all sidelined. 

But Melbourne managed to defy the odds and get the points.

From the win, there were some great sub stories.

The performance of Max Gawn was super. It was telling. His support act Jake Spencer stood up. Who will forget his contested mark and grab after a brilliant running pass from Angus Brayshaw?

Bernie Vince continued to shine in the midfield. Nathan Jones was courageous as usual. And Jack Viney’s 28-disposal performance against superstar Cat Joel Selwood (17 touches) was pivotal.

Lynden Dunn’s quelling of star forward Tom Hawkins – plus a 70-metre-plus torp – was fantastic, as was Jeff Garlett’s four goals and Alex Neal-Bullen’s three majors in just his second game.

The fact was that every Demon contributed was the key in the win. That was the highlight.

So soak up the moment Melbourne supporters. Wins at the Cattery don’t happen often. But you get the feeling Melbourne is on a journey and there are sure to be some other pleasant surprises in store.

Get on board for the ride!