THE Cats tradition at all home games is to get a club great to ring a historic brass bell prior to the opening bounce. The bell, which has a history dating back to the Geelong FC's earliest days in the 1850s, had been rung by some of the greatest players to don the hoops.
The bell's history began not far from the current home ground, at the Newtown Fire Station serving the people of Geelong since 1859.
When the station was demolished in the 1930s, the bell was given to the Geelong Football Club to use as the timekeeper's bell at the Corio Oval - the previous timekeeper's bell had been much smaller and was often not heard when it was rung.
The larger bell was greatly appreciated by the timekeeper of the time, a man by the name of Peter Burns.
In the words of Gartland, Burns was "one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
When the Cats moved to Kardinia Park the bell moved with them, but it sat idle once a siren was introduced at the ground.
However, it has now been brought to life again as a key part of the build-up to every match at Kardinia Park.
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