Geelong icon Jimmy Bartel confesses to sleepless night of partying right before AFL game in London

Geelong icon Jimmy Bartel reveals he won best on ground in an AFL game in London despite partying all night right beforehand – and the match was cut short due to streakers

  • Geelong great wasn’t always meticulous before AFL games
  • Recalled 2006 trip to London where Cats played Port Adelaide
  • Bartel was voted best on ground – despite having no sleep

Geelong great Jimmy Bartel has recalled the wild time he won best on ground for starring in an AFL exhibition game in London – even though he had such a huge night on the town that he didn’t make it back to the team hotel until a few hours before kickoff.

Speaking on 3AW Football, the three-time premiership winner with the Cats looked back fondly at the scenes in October 2006.

The match against Port Adelaide at the Oval was also famously stopped early in the fourth quarter after a handful of streakers emerged from the crowd of 12,129.

‘Did you know I once won a football medal against Port?’ the retired AFL legend asked host Bruce Eva.

‘I remember walking into the [team] hotel lobby still in my jeans and T-shirt … I saw [coaching staff] Brendan McCartney plus Ron Watt, who were about to go for a jog.

Geelong great Jimmy Bartel (pictured) has recalled the wild time he won best on ground during an AFL exhibition game in London – despite having a huge night on the town

The match against Port Adelaide at the Oval in 2006 was also stopped early in the fourth quarter due to a number of streakers (pictured) emerging from the crowd of just over 12,000

The match against Port Adelaide at the Oval in 2006 was also stopped early in the fourth quarter due to a number of streakers (pictured) emerging from the crowd of just over 12,000 

‘They asked me what I was doing and I said I was looking for a café for a bit of brekky … but they knew [the truth].’

Hours later, Bartel guided a youthful Cats outfit to a 21-point victory – and then the celebrations started again. 

‘The award [for best on ground] was a huge battle of champagne … which was polished in about a minute flat,’ he recalled.

‘We then continued drinking at a nearby Walkabout pub.’

Bartel later joked that the trip to the UK planted the seed for Geelong’s dynasty, with the club winning flags in 2007, 2009 and 2011. 

The match at the Oval was also marred by a series of fights featuring – among others – Daryl Wakelin and Todd Grima.   

Bartel – who kicked five goals against the Power in London – retired in 2016 as a one-club player, chalking up 305 appearances.

The utility also won the Brownlow Medal in 2007 and the Norm Smith Medal four years later after he was a standout in the grand final win over Collingwood.