Geelong Cats welcomed home after grand final victory
Some Cats had barely a wink after the grand final win but they got a whole new burst of energy when more than 10,000 people cheered their names at the club’s welcome home fan day.
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Victorious Geelong fans came out in their thousands to say thank you to their team for delivering what many labelled the club’s greatest premiership win in recent history.
Some were tired and weary, but fans of all ages packed St Mary’s oval on Sunday to have their first glimpse of their mighty premiers after Geelong’s scintillating win.
Three generations of the Mason family were there to meet their heroes a day after travelling to the MCG as one.
“I remember watching Isaac Smith get the Norm Smith Medal and thinking ‘this is a great memory’,” 11-year-old Ryder Mason said.
“This the first, and it could be the last time, I get to see my team win the premiership.”
His grandmother, Julie Mason, has been a Geelong member more than 20 years and remembers watching greats like Polly Farmer.
From then on she fell in love with the Geelong Cats, and that relationship has lasted a lifetime.
“The best part of my life is going to the footy,” she said.
“I’ve followed the Cats for so many years – through the good and the not so good. What it means for me is just beyond happiness. I’m so happy for them and for Chris Scott.”
Pam Hardiman’s father Les Hardiman was a premiership player for Geelong in 1931 and 1937.
She sat in a small wooden stand on Sunday, waiting for the 2022 premiership team to arrive.
“Being here brings tears to my eyes,” she said.
“Sport is a wonderful equaliser and it’s something that brings everyone together and benefits the whole community.”
Portland based sisters Coreen Denner and Joanne Lane also shed a tear as they watched their late father’s team win for the first time since his death.
“We took his scarf and beanie with us (to the MCG) and dad was there in spirit,” Ms Denner said.
To the right of the presentation stage, former Geelong star Jack Hawkins stood quietly waiting for his son, and current star, Tom Hawkins to appear.
Hawkins Snr posed for a few happy snaps with fans as he interacted with the crowd.
He said the premiership win made him proud and, as a father, said he always wanted to see his children succeed in doing what they love.
“They’ve been working pretty hard to get to where they have got to,” he said.
“They are such a close knit group.”
Deputy Prime Minister, and diehard Cats supporter, Richard Marles blended in with crowd as he took a moment to reflect on his team’s win.
“This is a remarkable scene, the place is just a sea of blue and white,” he said.
“The place is just so much happier and so much better because the Geelong Football Club exists and it’s such a great club.
“It feels so good to be someone from Geelong today and we’re really proud the club that we have.”
Baby Kassian Trenery, aged 13 weeks, will not remember his team’s first premiership.
He spent Sunday’s fan day cradled in dad Tim Trenery’s arms while dressed head to toe in Geelong colours.
Born on June 16, he is one of many tiny fans who have yet to see Geelong lose in their lifetime.
When the players arrived on the stage to meet their fans the crowd erupted and a whole new generation of Cats supporters were drawn in.
To them, this meant everything.
Dusty Cats make fans’ day
The last player out of the changerooms at the MCG the day before, perhaps Mark Blicavs forgot to take his bag home with him.
The premiership Cat cruised into Sunday’s family day on St Mary’s footy oval in his complete playing kit: boots, socks, shorts and jumper.
Of course, he was wearing a premiership medal around his neck, and a club jacket and bucket hat.
Blicavs was caught up talking to the Addy on Saturday night as his teammates were ushered outside the MCG to meet fans on a stage in the surrounding parklands, before being whisked on a bus back to Geelong and some in-house celebrations at Kardinia Park.
Players, staff, friends and family too it at different speeds at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night.
Forever wise, Joel Selwood advised teammates to take it easy early to be able to soak in the week, and some players got a decent sleep.
Jeremy Cameron didn’t – he estimated his shut-eye “nap” lasted “about half-an-hour”.
Some staffers and friends went close to sunrise at the club, enjoying the night as they absolutely should.
Blicavs had clearly not showered since he was one of Geelong’s best in the breakthrough premiership – he still had a dribble of blood on his left shin from the day before.
But if he had found little time for sleep Saturday night, Blicavs was still full of energy on Sunday and was the first player to step away from the bar and join the fans to sign their Cats gear.
Unsurprisingly, sunnies were a must for the Cats on Sunday, while Zach Tuohy, Tom Atkins and Jack Henry all had a go at rocking a Peaky Blinders-type tweed hat.
Even if Cameron placing his medal around a cow’s neck has already gone down in premiership celebration folklore, these Cats didn’t push themselves to the brink on night one of celebration.
Tom Hawkins - party animal
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) September 24, 2022
How the Cats celebrated after dark.
Jezza Cameron BOG?https://t.co/3eFNj0nXYVpic.twitter.com/lnauiQy7lO
If grand final week was big, the week that follows could be bigger for the players.
Sunday’s family day will run into Mad Monday, with sunglasses inevitably returning on Tuesday for a parade through town, before the best-and-fairest celebration on Thursday.
The Cats proved throughout 2022 that it is all about pacing yourself, as they hit top speed at the exact right time.
That challenge awaits again over the next few days and it hard to see Blicavs rolling into the black-tie Carji Greeves Medal count on Thursday in his boots.
Police thank fans for good behaviour
The celebrations were just as raucous among supporters in the CBD, but police said they were “pleased” with behaviour overall.
While streets were closed and mounted police deployed in Geelong as fans flocked to the streets to celebrate the Cats premiership, police said just a small number of incidents were recorded.
“Victoria Police had a highly visible presence in the Geelong area on AFL Grand Final day and were pleased with the behaviour of the overwhelming majority of football fans,” a police spokesperson said on Sunday morning.
Geelong going off! So god - well done you Catters! #AFLGF#AFLFinals#AFLCatsSwans#AFLGrandFinal#GeelongStrong#WeAreGeelong#AddyGFÂ #geelongphotographer@geelongaddypic.twitter.com/NepHsNX4Ki
— Alan Barber (@bfmphoto) September 24, 2022
“Hundreds of police officers including general duties police, Highway Patrol officers, Protective Services Officers (PSOs), and Critical Incident Response Teams (CIRT) patrolled the region before, during and after the match, with a particular focus on pubs and clubs.
“While there were a small number of incidents that required police involvement, most people enjoyed their day in the right spirit.
“Victoria Police will continue to have a strong presence in the community as the long weekend comes to a close.”
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