Mark Yeates

Recruited from West Gambier, Mark Yeates arrived at Kardinia Park with a strong football pedigree as the son of former Geelong captain John Yeates. A solid, tough-tackling utility who primarily operated on the wing or half-back flank, he became a fixture in the Cats' senior side throughout the 1980s. While never the flashiest player in a team boasting superstars like Gary Ablett and Paul Couch, Yeates was a reliable accumulator who offered grit and defensive accountability, playing a crucial role in balancing Geelong's attacking flair with necessary steel.

Yeates' career is indelibly defined by a single, explosive moment in the 1989 Grand Final against Hawthorn. Acting on instructions from coach Malcolm Blight to unsettle the Hawks early, Yeates charged off the line at the opening bounce and delivered a heavy shirtfront to Dermott Brereton, breaking the Hawthorn star's ribs and bruising his kidney. It remains one of the most infamous physical clashes in Grand Final history, overshadowing Yeates' otherwise dependable 154-game tenure. He retired at the end of the 1990 season, leaving the game as a cult figure largely remembered for setting the tone in one of the sport's greatest deciders.