Geelong Football Club
Geelong Football Club | |||
---|---|---|---|
Names | |||
Full name | Geelong Football Club Limited[1] | ||
Nickname(s) | Cats | ||
Former nickname(s) | Pivotonians, Seagulls | ||
2021 season | |||
Home-and-away season | 3rd | ||
Leading goalkicker | Tom Hawkins (54 goals) | ||
Club details | |||
Founded | 1859 | ||
Colours | White Navy Blue | ||
Competition | AFL: Senior men AFLW: Senior women (national level) VFL: Reserves men VFLW: Senior women (state level) | ||
President | Craig Drummond | ||
CEO | Brian Cook | ||
Coach | AFL: Chris Scott AFLW: Daniel Lowther VFL: Shane O'Bree VFLW: | ||
Captain(s) | AFL: Joel Selwood AFLW: Meg McDonald VFL: Aaron Black VFLW: | ||
Premierships | VFL/AFL (9)
| ||
Ground(s) | Kardinia Park[a] (capacity: 36,000) | ||
Melbourne Cricket Ground[b] (capacity: 100,024) | |||
Former ground(s) | Corio Oval (1878-1940) | ||
Training ground(s) | Deakin University's Elite Sport Precinct & GMHBA Stadium | ||
Uniforms | |||
| |||
Other information | |||
Official website | www.geelongcats.com.au | ||
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed the 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.[2] In the 1860s, Geelong participated in a series of Challenge Cup competitions, and was a foundation member of both the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1877 and the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1897, now the national AFL.[3] 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.[4][5][6] Geelong won a further two premierships in 2009 and 2011.
Geelong 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 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[]
Club identity and culture[]
Guernseys[]
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.[7]
The team has worn various away guernseys since 1998, all featuring the club's logo and traditional colours.[8]
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.[9]
- 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.[10]
Rivalries[]
Hawthorn[]
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.[11]
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.[12]
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[]
Season | Members | Average home attendance[13] |
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 | [14] |
2008 | 36,850 | 29,474 | [15] |
2009 | 37,160 | 30,069 | [16] |
2010 | 40,326 | 39,129 | [17] |
2011 | 39,343 | 35,401 | [18] |
2012 | 40,200 | 31,508 | |
2013 | 42,884 | 36,650 | |
2014 | 43,803 | 33,915 | [19] |
2015 | 44,312 | 29,582 | [20] |
2016 | 50,571 | 30,497 | [21] |
2017 | 54,854 | 35,111 | [22] |
2018 | 63,818 | TBA | [23] |
Players and staff[]
Current playing list and coaches[]
Senior list | Rookie list | Coaching staff | |||||||
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Head coach
Assistant coaches
Updated: 4 September 2021 |
Officials[]
- President: Craig Drummond
- Vice President: Bob Gartland
- Chief Executive Officer: Brian Cook
- General Manager – Football: Simon Lloyd
Club records[]
Premierships and awards[]
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 | 10 | 1897,[c] 1930, 1953, 1967, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2008, 2020 | |
Wooden spoons | 5 | 1908, 1915, 1944, 1957, 1958 |
Win-loss record[]
- Statistics are correct to end of 2019 season[24]
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[]
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) | [25] |
Lowest score | Round 3, 1899 | Corio Oval | Fitzroy | Geelong 0.8 (8) v Fitzroy 4.8 (32) | [26] |
Highest losing score | Round 6, 1989 | Princes Park | Hawthorn | Geelong 25.13 (163) v Hawthorn 26.15 (171) | [27] |
Lowest winning score | Round 9, 1897 | Corio Oval | Melbourne | Geelong 1.9 (15) v Melbourne 0.10 (10) | [28] |
Biggest winning margin | Round 19, 2011 | Kardinia Park | Melbourne | 186 points Geelong 37.11 (233) v Melbourne 7.5 (47) | [29] |
Biggest losing margin | Round 21, 1986 | Princes Park | Hawthorn | 135 points – Geelong 13.12 (90) v Hawthorn 35.15 (225) | [30] |
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.[31] 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.[32] The club has also had a team in the second-tier VFL Women's league since 2017.
Senior list | Rookie list | Coaching staff | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
|
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Updated: 4 September 2021 |
AFLW season summaries[]
League Season |
Club Season |
Ladder | W–L–D | Finals | Coach | Captain(s) | Best and fairest | Leading goal kicker [33] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | 2019 | 6th ^ | 3–4–0 | Lost Preliminary Final | Paul Hood[34] | Melissa Hickey[35] | Meg McDonald | Mia-Rae Clifford (6) |
2020 | 10th ^ | 2–4–0 | — | Paul Hood | Melissa Hickey | Olivia Purcell | Richelle Cranston (5) | |
2021 | 13th | 1–8–0 | — | Paul Hood | Meg McDonald[36] | 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[]
League Season |
Club Season |
Ladder | W–L–D | Finals | Coach | Captain | Best and fairest | Leading goal kicker | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | 2017 | 5 / 14 | 8–6–0 | — | Paul Hood | Rebecca Goring[37] | Lily Mithen | Kate Darby (19) | [38] |
2018 | 2018 | 4 / 13 | 10–3–1 | Runners-up | Paul Hood | Rebecca Goring | Richelle Cranston | Kate Darby (17) | [39] |
2019 | 2019 | 6 / 13 | 8–6–0 | Lost Elimination Final | Natalie Wood | Rotating† | Rebecca Webster | Madisen Maguire (11) | [40] |
2020 | Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||||
2021 | 2 / 12 | 10-4-0 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
† In 2019, the team captaincy rotated through the following 5 players: Kate Darby, Danielle Higgins, Jordan Ivey, Maddy Keryk, Amy McDonald.[41]
Sources: Club historical data and VFLW stats
See also[]
- Sport in Australia
- Sport in Victoria
- List of Geelong Football Club players, captains and coaches
Notes[]
Footnotes[]
- References
- ^ "Current details for ABN 67 005 150 818". ABN Lookup. Australian Business Register. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Rodgers, Stephen (1983) Every Game Ever Played p. i. Melbourne: Lloyd O'Neil
- ^ "AFL Tables". afltables.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ "AFL Tables – Season Summary". afltables.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ The Bulletin publishes for the last time
- ^ "Official AFL Website of the Geelong Cats Football Club". gfc.com.au. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ "www.footyjumpers.com". footyjumpers.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ AFL Tunes to Remember The Melbourne Age, 23 July 2010
- ^ "Deakin welcomes Cats as MCG blockbuster looms". Deakin University. 19 May 2016.
- ^ "Head to Head Between Geelong and Hawthorn". finalsiren.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ "An epic rivalry". collingwoodfc.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ "Geelong Attendances". AFL Tables. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ Pierik, Jon (13 July 2007). "Club members post record". Herald Sun. Melbourne: News Limited. p. 106.
- ^ Ralph, Jon (16 July 2008). "Bid to keep new Kanga members". Herald Sun. Melbourne: News Limited. p. 77.
- ^ Rucci, Michelangelo (24 July 2009). "Fans are quitting SA seats". The Advertiser. Adelaide: News Limited. p. 109.
- ^ Warner, Michael (17 July 2010). "Roos lose support". Herald Sun. Melbourne: News Limited. p. 39.
- ^ Williams, Bruce (31 July 2011). "Magpie army leads charge on AFL membership". Sunday Herald Sun. Melbourne: News Limited. p. 78.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Siracusa, Claire (26 August 2015). "AFL club membership grows, but three clubs dropped off". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Geelong Win-Loss Records". AFL Tables. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ V/AFL record
- ^ "AFL Tables – Geelong – Game Records". afltables.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ V/AFL record. Geelong took both this record and that for the highest score from Fitzroy.
- ^ Only one behind kicked in first quarter; aggregate of scoring shots lowest since 1953 and second lowest since 1905 Grand Final
- ^ "AFL Tables – Geelong – Game Records". afltables.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ 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
- ^ Schmook, Nathan (29 August 2017). "Decision on AFLW expansion delayed". afl.com.au. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- ^ Black, Sarah (27 September 2017). "North and Geelong win AFLW expansion race". afl.com.au. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- ^ "AFL Women's Premiership Season - Every goalkicker". Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- ^ "Cats unveil AFLW coach for 2019". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. 23 February 2018. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ "Hickey named Geelong's inaugural AFLW captain". geelongcats.com.au. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Meghan McDonald Named Geelong AFLW Captain". geelongcats.com.au. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Cats announce VFLW leadership group". geelongcats.com.au. Telstra Media. 28 April 2018. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ "Geelong WFC (VFLW) - 2017 Season". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Geelong WFC (VFLW) - 2018 Season". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Geelong WFC (VFLW) - 2019 Season". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Cats name VFLW leaders". Geelong Football Club. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- 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.
- Geelong Football Club
- Australian rules football clubs established in 1859
- Australian Football League clubs
- AFL Women's clubs
- Australian rules football clubs in Victoria (Australia)
- 1859 establishments in Australia
- Former Victorian Football League clubs