Geelong was the best performing side of the home and away season in 2007, finishing 12 points clear of second-placed Port Adelaide, with an 18–4 record and a percentage of 152.76, winning the McClelland Trophy.

After opening the season with a 2–3 record, Geelong had lost only one of its last 19 games: by five points against Port Adelaide at Skilled Stadium in round 21 when Domenic Cassisi goaled with three seconds remaining.

Port Adelaide had hosted reigning premiers West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium in their qualifying final, winning by three points after trailing all night.

Having also earned a second week bye, they hosted the Kangaroos in a preliminary final at AAMI Stadium, winning by 87 points.

They then kicked five goals in the first 12 minutes of the second quarter to extend the margin to 52 points, all but ending any chances Port Adelaide had.

The backlines, led by Matthew Scarlett at full-back, repeatedly turned defence into attack, rushing the ball forward to support the forward line, as evidenced by Scarlett's tally of 29 disposals (tied with Corey Enright for Geelong's most disposals), rare for a team, especially a team who had won by a 100-point-plus margin.

Power player Domenic Cassisi performed reasonably well against Geelong star Gary Ablett, Jr.;[3] however, Geelong were still able to dominate the midfield, with Joel Corey, James Kelly, and Cameron Ling all making solid contributions,[4] while Brad Ottens and Steven King both performing strongly in the ruck.

The success of the 2007 season proved an aberration, as the club's rise from 12th to 2nd on the ladder in 2007 was followed by a drop to 13th in 2008, with Port Adelaide not qualifying for another finals series until 2013.