Former Cats vice president Gareth Andrews tells story of how the club plotted a path to success
The Cats are within touching distance of a fourth premiership in 13 years, but the club’s success is no fluke. Former Geelong Football Club president Gareth Andrews tells the story of what the Cats changed to become a perennial contender.
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WHEN the Geelong Football Club was desperate to break its perennial run of finals losses in the late 90s, Gareth Andrews was in the thick of it.
Seven finals losses in eight years, four in grand finals, dogged the Cats before Mr Andrews, a former player with Geelong and Richmond, arrived as vice president in 1998.
During a 15-year tenure, Mr Andrews, who played in a losing Grand Final with Geelong in 1967 against Richmond before crossing to Richmond to play in the 1974 premiership, laid the off-field foundation — along with Brian Cook, Frank Costa, Colin Carter and others — that’s put the Cats within reach of a fourth premiership in 13 years.
Early in his vice-presidency the club’s administration underwent a drastic upheaval as 80 per cent of staff were replaced.
“We just needed to changed up gear. The board wasn’t really stable enough,” Mr Andrews said.
Stability was built by bringing in the footy management acumen of chief executive Brian Cook in 1999, and, a year later, the ability of coach Mark Thompson to corral young men.
Major player signings and an expansion of the club’s presence in the community added stability in the following years.
During those transformative years, Mr Andrews said the club shifted focus to build stability by communicating major decisions to supporters.
He said stability was promoted, first through the inclusiveness of president Frank Costa then by the governance expertise of Colin Carter.
For all the resilience built through the club during his tenure, Mr Andrews marvels at the resilience of the current crop of players who’ve been on the road for more than 100 days.
Come Saturday, Mr Andrews feet will be firmly with Geelong.
He said Geelong’s slick skills should stand up against the “chaos” of Richmond’s play, and be backed up by the tactical nous of Chris Scott.
Mr Andrews said the mark of a strong club is the number of players that could be promoted to captain.
In the 1974 Richmond premiership side he was apart of there was Bartlett, Bourke, Clay.
While the 2020 Cats have Dangerfield, Blicavs and Ablett among others, Mr Andrews said.
He notes strong seasons from Jack Henry, Cam Guthrie, Zach Tuohy and Rhys Stanley.
“It’s not just a team of superstars across every line.”
Originally published as Former Cats vice president Gareth Andrews tells story of how the club plotted a path to success