Geelong Football Club

Geelong Football Club
Names
Full name	Geelong Football Club Limited [1]
Nickname(s)	Cats
Former nickname(s)	Pivotonians, Seagulls
2020 season
After finals	2nd (Grand Final)
Home-and-away season	4th
Leading goalkicker	Tom Hawkins (49 goals)
Club details
Founded	1859;162 years ago (1859)
Colours	White   Navy Blue
Competition	AFL: Senior men AFLW: Senior women (national level) VFL: Reserves men VFLW: Senior women (state level)
Chairman	Colin Carter [2]
Coach	AFL: Chris Scott AFLW: Paul Hood VFL: Shane O'Bree VFLW: Andrew Bruce
Captain(s)	AFL: Joel Selwood AFLW: Melissa Hickey VFL: TBC VFLW: Michelle Fedele
Premierships	VFL/AFL (9) 1925 1931 1937 1951 1952 1963 2007 2009 2011 VFA (7) 1878 1879 1880 1882 1883 1884 1886 Reserves/VFL (16) 1923 1924 1930 1937 1938 1948 1960 1963 1964 1975 1980 1981 1982 2002 2007 2012
Ground(s)	Kardinia Park [lower-alpha 1] (capacity: 36,000)
	Melbourne Cricket Ground [lower-alpha 2] (capacity: 100,024)
Former ground(s)	Corio Oval (1878-1940)
Training ground(s)	Deakin University's Elite Sport Precinct & GMHBA Stadium
Uniforms
Home Away
Other information
Official website	www.geelongcats.com.au
Current season

The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed the Geelong Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The club competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's premier competition.

The club formed in 1859, making it the second oldest club in the AFL after Melbourne and one of the oldest football clubs in the world. ^[3] Geelong participated in the first football competition in Australia and was a foundation club of both the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1877 and the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1897, now the national AFL. ^[4] The club won a record seven VFA premierships and a further six VFL premierships by 1963, after which it experienced a 44-year waiting period until it won its next premiership—a grand final-record 119-point victory in the 2007 AFL Grand Final. ^{[5] [6] [7]} Geelong won a further two premierships in 2009 and 2011.

The Cats play most of their home games at Kardinia Park (known for sponsorship reasons as GMHBA Stadium) and play the remainder at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Geelong's traditional guernsey colours are navy blue and white hoops. The club's nickname was first used in 1923 after a run of losses prompted a local cartoonist to suggest that the club needed a domestic black cat to bring it good luck. Geelong also field teams in other competitions; a reserves men's team in the Victorian Football League (VFL), a senior women's team in the AFL Women's (AFLW) and a reserves women's team in the VFL Women's (VFLW) competitions. The club's official team song and anthem is "We Are Geelong".

History

Main article: History of the Geelong Football Club

Club identity and culture

Guernseys

Club attire in 1895 (Jim McShane pictured)

Geelong's traditional navy blue and white hooped guernsey has been worn since the club's inception in the mid-1800s. The design is said to represent the white seagulls and blue water of Corio Bay. ^[8]

The team has worn various away guernseys since 1998, all featuring the club's logo and traditional colours. ^[9]

Song: "We Are Geelong"

"We Are Geelong" is the song sung after a game won by the Geelong Football Club. It is sung to the tune of "Toreador" from Carmen . The lyrics were written by former premiership player John Watts. Only the first verse is used at matches and by the team after a victory. The song currently used by the club was recorded by the Fable Singers in April 1972. ^[10]

We are Geelong, the greatest team of all

We are Geelong; we’re always on the ball

We play the game as it should be played

At home or far away

Our banners fly high, from dawn to dark

Down at Kardinia Park

So! Stand up and fight, remember our tradition

Stand up and fight, it's always our ambition

Throughout the game to fight with all our might

Because we’re the mighty blue and white

And when the ball is bounced, to the final bell

Stand up and fight like hell

Stadium and training facilities

Geelong's administrative headquarters is its home stadium, GMHBA Stadium or also known as Kardinia Park. The club trains here during the season, however it also trains at its alternate training venue, Deakin University's Elite Sport Precinct. The latter features an MCG-sized oval and is used often by the club in the pre-season, when Kardinia Park is being used for other events. ^[11]

Rivalries

Hawthorn

Further information: Kennett curse

The rivalry between Hawthorn and Geelong is defined by two Grand Finals: those of 1989 and 2008. In the 1989 Grand Final, Geelong played the man, resulting in major injuries for several Hawks players, Mark Yeates knocking out Dermott Brereton at the opening bounce; Hawthorn controlled the game, leading by approximately 40 points for most of the match; in the last quarter, Geelong almost managed to come from behind to win, but fell short by six points. In 2008 Grand Final, Geelong was the heavily backed favourite and had lost only one match for the season, but Hawthorn upset Geelong by 26 points; Geelong won its next eleven matches against Hawthorn over the following five years, under a curse, which was dubbed the "Kennett curse" which was attributed to disrespectful comments made by Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett following the 2008 Grand Final. It was later revealed that after the 2008 grand final, Paul Chapman initiated a pact between other Geelong players to never lose to Hawthorn again. The curse was broken in a preliminary final in 2013, after Paul Chapman played his final match for Geelong the previous week. Hawthorn went on to win the next three premierships. In 2016 Geelong again defeated Hawthorn in the qualifying final. In 20 matches between the two sides between 2008 and 2017, 12 were decided by less than 10 points, with Geelong victorious in 11 of those 12 close games. ^[12]

Collingwood

In 1925, Geelong won their first flag over Collingwood. In 1930, Collingwood defeated Geelong in the grand final making it four flags in-a-row for the Pies. Geelong would later deny Collingwood three successive premierships in 1937, winning a famous grand final by 32 points.

The two sides played against each other in 6 finals between 1951 and 1955, including the 1952 Grand Final when Geelong easily beat Collingwood by 46 points. In 1953, Collingwood ended Geelong's record 23-game winning streak in the home and away season, and later defeated them by 12 points in the grand final, denying the Cats a third successive premiership.

Since 2007, the clubs have again both been at the top of the ladder and have met regularly in finals. Geelong won a memorable preliminary final by five points on their way to their first flag in 44 years. In 2008, Collingwood inflicted Geelong's only home-and-away loss, by a massive 86 points, but the teams did not meet in the finals. They would meet in preliminary finals in 2009 and 2010, each winning one en route to a premiership. They finally met again in a Grand Final in 2011, which Geelong won by 38 points; Geelong inflicted Collingwood's only three losses for the 2011 season. ^[13]

Corporate

Sponsorship

Year	Kit Manufacturer	Major Sponsor	Shorts Sponsor	Back Sponsor
1977-92	-	Ford	-	-
1993	-		Ford	-
1994-96	-			Ford
1997-98	Adidas
1999-2002	Fila
2003-06	Slazenger
2007			nib
2008-16	ISC
2017-	Cotton On		GMHBA

Supporter base

Geelong's supporters came out in force in the 2009 Grand Final against St Kilda

Well-known supporter Troy West, nicknamed "Catman"

Geelong players prepare to break a banner, which is created by its supporters, before a match against Greater Western Sydney in June 2013.

Table of club membership, with home attendance figures (since 1984)

Season	Members	Average home attendance [14]	Ref
1984	7,709	20,577
1985	7,718	19,463
1986	6,985	15,319
1987	6,981	20,462
1988	9,667	20,790
1989	7,760	29,296
1990	15,087	24,711
1991	11,356	23,525
1992	13,535	27,698
1993	15,500	26,920
1994	14,312	26,461
1995	15,922	25,317
1996	17,346	25,161
1997	18,858	28,324
1998	19,971	28,371
1999	21,032	24,840
2000	25,595	27,729
2001	25,420	27,093
2002	23,756	27,040
2003	24,017	25,971
2004	25,021	25,747
2005	30,821	27,783
2006	32,290	27,428
2007	30,169	31,547	[15]
2008	36,850	29,474	[16]
2009	37,160	30,069	[17]
2010	40,326	39,129	[18]
2011	39,343	35,401	[19]
2012	40,200	31,508
2013	42,884	36,650
2014	43,803	33,915	[20]
2015	44,312	29,582	[21]
2016	50,571	30,497	[22]
2017	54,854	35,111	[23]
2018	63,818	TBA	[24]

Players and staff

Further information: List of Geelong Football Club players, Geelong Football Club draft and trade history, List of Geelong Football Club coaches, and List of Geelong Football Club captains

Chris Scott is the club's current head coach.

Current playing list and coaches

Geelong Football Club

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Senior list						Rookie list		Coaching staff
1 Rhys Stanley  2 Zach Tuohy  3 Brandan Parfitt  4 Shaun Higgins  5 Jeremy Cameron  6 Jordan Clark  7 Isaac Smith  8 Jake Kolodjashnij  9 Max Holmes 10 Ben Jarvis 11 Josh Jenkins 12 Cooper Stephens 14 Joel Selwood (c) 15 Nathan Kreuger 16 Sam de Koning 17 Esava Ratugolea 18 Charlie Constable 19 Quinton Narkle 21 Nick Stevens		22 Mitch Duncan 23 Gary Rohan 24 Jed Bews 26 Tom Hawkins 27 Sam Menegola 28 Darcy Fort 29 Cameron Guthrie 31 Francis Evans 32 Gryan Miers 33 Shannon Neale 35 Patrick Dangerfield (vc) 37 Sam Simpson 38 Jack Henry 39 Zach Guthrie 40 Luke Dahlhaus 41 Cameron Taheny 42 Mark O'Connor 44 Tom Stewart 46 Mark Blicavs (vc)				20 Oscar Brownless 25 Lachie Henderson 30 Tom Atkins 36 Paul Tsapatolis (B) 43 Stefan Okunbor (B) 45 Bradley Close		Head coach Chris Scott Assistant coaches Simon Lloyd (director of coaching) Matthew Scarlett (defence) Matthew Knights (midfield) Corey Enright (forwards) Nigel Lappin (development) Shane O'Bree (VFL coach) Brad Ottens (ruck) Shaun Grigg (development) Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice captain(s) (B) Category B rookie italics - Inactive player list Long-term injury (ret.) Retired Updated: 6 May 2021 Source(s): Playing list, Coaching staff

Officials

• President: Colin Carter
• Vice President: Bob Gartland
• Chief Executive Officer: Brian Cook
• General Manager – Football: Simon Lloyd

Club records

Further information: List of Geelong Football Club seasons

Premierships and awards

See also: List of Geelong Football Club individual awards and records

Premierships
Competition	Team	Wins	Years Won
Australian Football League	Seniors	9	1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011
Victorian Football Association	Seniors	7	1878, 1879, 1880, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886
VFL Reserves (1919–1999)	Reserves	13	1923, 1924, 1930, 1937, 1938, 1948, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982
Victorian Football League (2000–present)		3	2002, 2007, 2012
VFL Under 19s	Under-19s	1	1962
Other titles and honours
VFL McClelland Trophy (1951–1990; all grades)	Seniors	6	1952, 1954, 1962, 1963, 1980, 1981
AFL McClelland Trophy (1991–present; top of AFL ladder)		4	1992, 2007, 2009, 2019
Challenge Cup	Seniors	1	1863–64
VFL Night Series	Seniors	1	1961
AFL Preseason competition	Seniors	2	2006, 2009
Finishing positions
Australian Football League	Minor premiership	14	1897, 1901, 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1980, 1992, 2007, 2008, 2019
	Grand Finalist	9	1897, [lower-alpha 3] 1930, 1953, 1967, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2008, 2020
	Wooden spoons	5	1908, 1915, 1944, 1957, 1958

Win-loss record

Awarded to the "best and fairest" player during the AFL's home-and-away season, the Brownlow Medal, football's most prestigious award, is named after Geelong player and administrator Charles "Chas" Brownlow.

Geelong footballer Edward "Carji" Greeves, winner of the inaugural Brownlow Medal in 1924, and namesake of the Carji Greeves Medal, awarded to Geelong's best and fairest player of the season

Statistics are correct to end of 2019 season ^[25]

Geelong's win-loss record against other VFL/AFL clubs

Club	T	W	L	D	Win%
	Adelaide	45	25	20	0	55.6
Brisbane Bears †	15	10	4	1	70.0
Brisbane Lions	34	19	15	0	55.9
Carlton	220	101	117	2	46.4
Collingwood	234	100	133	1	42.9
Essendon	218	98	115	5	46.1
Fitzroy †	183	103	79	1	56.6
Fremantle	39	26	13	0	66.7
Gold Coast	11	9	2	0	81.8
Greater Western Sydney	10	7	2	1	75.0
Hawthorn	166	90	75	1	54.5
Melbourne	218	131	85	2	60.6
North Melbourne	164	100	63	1	61.3
Port Adelaide	33	22	10	1	68.2
Richmond	196	104	89	3	53.8
St Kilda	215	130	84	1	60.7
Sydney	225	124	101	0	55.1
University †	14	8	6	0	57.1
West Coast	53	26	26	1	50.0
Western Bulldogs	161	102	57	2	64.0
Totals	2454	1335	1096	23	54.9

Key
W	Wins	L	Losses	D	Draws	T	Total
Win%	Winning percentage			†	Defunct club

Match records

Table of club VFL/AFL match records

Club record	Round	Venue	Opponent	Details	Ref
Highest score	Round 7, 1992	Carrara	Brisbane Bears	Geelong 37.17 (239) v Brisbane Bears 11.9 (75)	[26]
Lowest score	Round 3, 1899	Corio Oval	Fitzroy	Geelong 0.8 (8) v Fitzroy 4.8 (32)	[27]
Highest losing score	Round 6, 1989	Princes Park	Hawthorn	Geelong 25.13 (163) v Hawthorn 26.15 (171)	[28]
Lowest winning score	Round 9, 1897	Corio Oval	Melbourne	Geelong 1.9 (15) v Melbourne 0.10 (10)	[29]
Biggest winning margin	Round 19, 2011	Kardinia Park	Melbourne	186 points Geelong 37.11 (233) v Melbourne 7.5 (47)	[30]
Biggest losing margin	Round 21, 1986	Princes Park	Hawthorn	135 points – Geelong 13.12 (90) v Hawthorn 35.15 (225)	[31]
Record attendance (home and away game)	Round 9, 2010	Melbourne Cricket Ground	Collingwood	91,115
Record attendance (finals match)	1967 VFL Grand Final	Melbourne Cricket Ground	Richmond	109,396

Reserves team

The Geelong reserves team began competing in the VFL Reserves competition with the league's other reserves teams from 1919. From 1919 to 1991 the VFL/AFL operated a reserves competition, and from 1992 to 1999 a de facto AFL reserves competition was run by the Victorian State Football League. The Geelong Football Club fielded a reserves team in both of these competitions, allowing players who were not selected for the senior team to play for Geelong in the lower grade. During that time, the Geelong reserves team won thirteen premierships (1923, 1924, 1930, 1937, 1938, 1948, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982), the most of any club.

Since the demise of the AFL reserves competition, the Geelong reserves team has competed in the new Victorian Football League, having won three premierships in that time. Unlike all other Victorian AFL clubs, Geelong has never operated in a reserves affiliation with an existing VFL club, having instead operated its stand-alone reserves team continuously. The team is composed of both reserves players from the club's primary and rookie AFL lists, and a separately maintained list of players eligible only for VFL matches. Home games are played at GMHBA Stadium, with some played as curtain-raisers to senior AFL matches.

• Premierships (3): 2002, 2007, 2012
• Runners-ups (2): 2006, 2013
• Minor premierships (2): 2002, 2013
• Wooden spoons (1): 2005

AFL Women's team

In 2017, following the inaugural AFL Women's (AFLW) season, Geelong was among eight clubs that applied for licenses to enter the competition from 2019 onwards. ^[32] In September 2017, the club was announced as one of two clubs, along with North Melbourne, to receive a license to join the competition in 2019. ^[33] The club has also had a team in the second-tier VFL Women's league since 2017.

Geelong Football Club (AFL Women's)

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Senior list						Rookie list		Coaching staff
1 Rene Caris  2 Danielle Higgins  3 Amy McDonald  4 Darcy Moloney  5 Jordan Ivey (vc)  6 Julia Crockett-Grills  7 Madisen Maguire  8 Kate Darby (i)  9 Nina Morrison 11 Meg McDonald (c) 12 Renee Garing 15 Olivia Barber 16 Olivia Purcell		17 Georgia Clarke 18 Laura Gardiner 19 Millie Brown 21 Rebecca Webster 23 Phoebe McWilliams 25 Stephanie Williams 27 Sophie Van De Heuvel 28 Denby Taylor 29 Carly Remmos 30 Richelle Cranston 44 Rebecca Goring 45 Madeline Keryk				10 Georgie Rankin 24 Maddy McMahon		Head coach Paul Hood Assistant coaches Josh Finch (defense) Daniel Lowther (midfield) Aaron Black (forwards) Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice captain(s) Updated: 6 May 2021 Source(s): Players

AFLW season summaries

Geelong AFLW honour roll
Season	Ladder	W–L–D	Finals	Coach	Captain(s)	Best and fairest	Leading goal kicker
2019	6th ^	3–4–0	Preliminary final	Paul Hood	Melissa Hickey	Meg McDonald	Mia-Rae Clifford (6)
2020	10th ^	2–4–0	DNQ	Paul Hood	Melissa Hickey	Olivia Purcell	Richelle Cranston (5)
2021	13th	1–8–0	DNQ	Paul Hood	Meg McDonald	Amy McDonald	Richelle Cranston (5)

^ Denotes the ladder was split into two conferences. Figure refers to the club's overall finishing position in the home-and-away season.

VFLW season summaries

Geelong VFLW honour roll
Season	Final position	Coach	Captain	Best and fairest	Leading goal kicker
2017	5th	Paul Hood	Bec Goring	Lily Mithen	Kate Darby (19)
2018	Runners-up	Paul Hood	Bec Goring	Richelle Cranston	Kate Darby (17)
2019	6th	Natalie Wood	Five rotating captains	Rebecca Webster	Madisen Maguire (11)
2020	Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021	TBC	Andrew Bruce	Michelle Fedele	TBC	TBC

Sources: Club historical data and VFLW stats

See also

• Sports portal
• Australia portal

• Sport in Australia
• Sport in Victoria
• List of Geelong Football Club players, captains and coaches

Notes

1. Used for most of the club's home matches in the AFL all home matches in other competitions.
2. Used for remaining home matches in the AFL.
3. The club finished runners-up in 1897, however no actual grand final match was staged.

Footnotes

References

1. "Current details for ABN 67 005 150 818". ABN Lookup. Australian Business Register. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
2. "The Board & Executive". gfc.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 October 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
3. Official Website of the Geelong Football Club Archived 26 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine GFC History Archived 2 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 10 June 2007.
4. Rodgers, Stephen (1983) Every Game Ever Played p. i. Melbourne: Lloyd O'Neil
5. "AFL Tables". afltables.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
6. "AFL Tables – Season Summary". afltables.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
7. The Bulletin publishes for the last time
8. "Official AFL Website of the Geelong Cats Football Club". gfc.com.au. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
9. "www.footyjumpers.com". footyjumpers.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
10. AFL Tunes to Remember The Melbourne Age, 23 July 2010
11. "Deakin welcomes Cats as MCG blockbuster looms". Deakin University. 19 May 2016.
12. "Head to Head Between Geelong and Hawthorn". finalsiren.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
13. "An epic rivalry". collingwoodfc.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
14. "Geelong Attendances". AFL Tables. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
15. Pierik, Jon (13 July 2007). "Club members post record". Herald Sun. Melbourne: News Limited. p. 106.
16. Ralph, Jon (16 July 2008). "Bid to keep new Kanga members". Herald Sun. Melbourne: News Limited. p. 77.
17. Rucci, Michelangelo (24 July 2009). "Fans are quitting SA seats". The Advertiser. Adelaide: News Limited. p. 109.
18. Warner, Michael (17 July 2010). "Roos lose support". Herald Sun. Melbourne: News Limited. p. 39.
19. Williams, Bruce (31 July 2011). "Magpie army leads charge on AFL membership". Sunday Herald Sun. Melbourne: News Limited. p. 78.
20. "Record AFL club membership in 2014". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. 22 August 2014. Archived from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
21. Siracusa, Claire (26 August 2015). "AFL club membership grows, but three clubs dropped off". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
22. Bowen, Nick (25 August 2016). "The membership ladder: Hawks overtake Pies, Dons slide". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
23. Guthrie, Ben (16 August 2017). "AFL club membership heads towards a million". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
24. King, Travis (2 August 2018). "Thanks a million: New membership benchmark". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
25. "Geelong Win-Loss Records". AFL Tables. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
26. V/AFL record
27. "AFL Tables – Geelong – Game Records". afltables.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
28. V/AFL record. Geelong took both this record and that for the highest score from Fitzroy.
29. Only one behind kicked in first quarter; aggregate of scoring shots lowest since 1953 and second lowest since 1905 Grand Final
30. "AFL Tables – Geelong – Game Records". afltables.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
31. Geelong actually led early in the third quarter before Hawthorn kicked 25.7 (157) to 1.7 (13) for a record score for a half
32. Schmook, Nathan (29 August 2017). "Decision on AFLW expansion delayed". afl.com.au. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
33. Black, Sarah (27 September 2017). "North and Geelong win AFLW expansion race". afl.com.au. Retrieved 5 April 2018.

Bibliography

• Lovett, Michael (Chief editor) (2010). AFL Record Season Guide. Geoff Slattery Media Group. ISBN   978-0-9806274-5-9.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Geelong Football Club .

• Official website of the Geelong Football Club
• Official AFL website
• Geelong Football Club Honour Roll – list of all Presidents, captains, coaches and Best & Fairest winners since 1879.