Geelong great Doug Wade backs Cats flag defence, doesn’t want new stand honour

Legendary Cat Doug Wade has pointed to one key factor that will help his old club in the hunt for back-to-back flags.

Great Geelong goalkicker Doug Wade in action.

Cats legend Doug Wade says impressive depth has Geelong’s premiership defence firmly on track after claiming five wins on the trot.

The reigning premier was written off in some quarters after a 0-3 start but has since bounced back with emphatic wins before a tough slog against a greatly improved Adelaide on Saturday.

That win put the Cats a game clear inside the eight and within striking distance of the top four, with only Melbourne (138.3) and St Kilda (137.1) bettering Geelong’s percentage of 135.7.

Former Geelong forward Doug Wade. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

After being challenged by the Crows late on Saturday, some Cats who didn’t play in the premiership triumph last season stepped up to steer the side home, with Max Holmes, Tanner Bruhn and Esava Ratugolea all crucial in the win.

Those three were part of a group of eight – the other names being Jonathon Ceglar, Ollie Dempsey, Ollie Henry, Mitch Knevitt and Sam Simpson – who didn’t play in the grand final against Sydney and Wade said that was a sign the Cats had the list depth to go back-to-back.

“They are OK, a couple of mates were talking the other day and we looked at it and they have won five on the trot and if you look at the grand final, premiership players who played last year, there were eight new players in the team last week that hadn’t played in the grand final,” Wade told RSN.

“So they have the good depth I think.”

Wade, who played 208 games for Geelong and booted 834 goals, reiterated he was not keen to have his name adorn any sections of the redeveloped GMHBA Stadium.

One of only six players in VFL/AFL history to have kicked over 1000 goals, having finished his career with North Melbourne, Wade also sat on Geelong’s board and had the southern end stand named after him before it was demolished in 2012.

Doug Wade now has a gate at GMHBA Stadium.

The Players Stand now sits at that end after the club moved away from naming areas after individuals, a plan backed by Wade.

The Cats will have say on what the new northern end, traditionally known as the Ford Stand, is named when it is completed later this year.

“They asked me if it would be all right if they took the (Doug Wade Stand) name down and called it the Players Stand because there are so many brilliant players (that you couldn’t pick one),” Wade said.

“I said ‘that is fine’ and they gave me a gate.”

Originally published as Geelong great Doug Wade backs Cats flag defence, doesn’t want new stand honour