September second team: Who Geelong fans should get behind this finals series
It can be a boring month when your team gets bounced out early. Here’s a one-eyed Geelong fan’s guide to week one of the AFL finals. HAVE YOUR SAY.
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It’s an unnatural feeling, mad Monday in August, no media discourse around a home first final and no talking heads calling the Cats too old and too slow.
The 2022 premiership side has missed the finals this year, marking just the second time in coach Chris Scott’s 12 years in charge that his side has not played in September.
Last time Geelong Football Club missed the AFL finals, Patrick Dangerfield was yet to arrive at the club.
So how does this city continue to connect to the competition this September?
And furthermore, who should we follow?
Here’s a look at finals week one through navy blue and white hooped glasses.
Collingwood Magpies v Melbourne Demons, MCG, Thursday 7.20pm
It’s a thankless task, trying to convince any fan base to get behind the Pies.
Yes, under current coach Craig McRae they’ve gone through a positive rebrand – but for many it’s impossible to look past those black and white stripes.
Geelong has enjoyed the spoils against the Pies in the past.
Your great-great-grandfather will fondly remember the Cats getting a win over the Pies in 1925 to secure the club’s first flag.
The Cats also clinched wins over the Pies en route to the club’s last four premierships too. But is 2023 the year to put our differences aside?
Maybe not.
Remember the vitriol their fans threw Geelong’s way after the round one clash?
Plus the booing of Ollie Henry coupled with whatever it was that Mason Cox did.
On the other hand, I haven’t forgiven Melbourne, and I may never.
In 2021, the final round 44 point comeback, the Max Gawn goal, followed by the unethical beat down against the on-the-brink-of-death gastro ridden Cats.
They make me angrier than Steven May at Entrecote, but was this payback?
Maybe we were the bad guys all along?
Due to my guilty conscience, and the fact they’re playing Collingwood, I’m backing Melbourne.
Carlton Blues v Sydney Swans, MCG, Friday, 7.50pm
Ah the Swans, I’ve just got to say thank you on behalf of the region’s paramedics, your decision not to show up when it mattered last season prevented a large number of potential cardiovascular complications.
Every time I get jealous that they are the only grand final team to get back to September this year, I just sit back and watch replays of that Joel Selwood goal, and I’m back at peace.
Unfortunately, just as I’m drifting off, YouTube’s ingenious auto-play feature cranks up, and like a night terror, starts showing me torturous images.
“I see it, but I don’t believe it!”
On one hand, Carlton has notable locals running around for them, superstar midfielder Sam Walsh is a Joey’s boy, while dual-Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow, and his retiring, cooler, wine-brand-owning brother Ed are both from Torquay way.
The Blues have seen a massive turnaround after an ugly first half of their season, and the Surf Coast may just be the reason for that.
Walsh told SEN radio in June that a bye trip to Ed Curnow’s Torquay property that included beers, burgers and skinny dipping in a dam had galvanised the playing group.
On the other hand, gee it’s been nice to watch the blues struggle.
Maybe it’s the masochist in me, but the SEN calls asking for the coaches head, the pre season hype, the end of season disappointment, the Elliot goal, provide me with a cacophony of guilty pleasures.
I’m going Swans.
St Kilda Saints v GWS Giants, MCG, Saturday, 3.20pm
At last, our long time bitter arch rivals, the Giants.
Jokes aside, Toby Greene and his men always seem to bring it against the Cats and it’d probably annoy us all a little more if they had fans to rub it in.
They stole Geelong great Steve Johnson, but it’s hard to be upset at the team that gifted us Jeremy Cameron.
I understand they played hardball, and we coughed up a suite of picks for him, but he’s a big reason we’re still the premiers, albeit only for another month.
Geelong legend Jimmy Bartel also sits on the GWS board.
If I had to pick a gripe with GWS it’s be that they aren’t playing former Geelong West junior Cam Fleeton, despite his strong form in the VFL.
You had some fun in the late 2000s, but what have you done lately, Saints?
The carry on at Marvel Stadium when the umpires gave St Kilda a win against a wounded Cats outfit earlier this year was like they’d won a flag,
I guess that would be an extremely foreign feeling for St Kilda fans.
If their loss to the Cats in the 2009 Grand Final didn’t shut them up about Michael Gardiner’s mark, I don’t think losing this week will.
Ex-Saint Rhys Stanley has been good for us and we got a few good games out of former St Kilda player Jack Steven.
On the flip side, St Kilda players Zaine Cordy and Mason Wood are both Geelong boys.
I’m going Giants, but please give Fleeton a crack.
Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide Power, Gabba, Saturday, 7.25pm
Brisbane has three listed Geelong locals in Darcy Gardiner, Darcy Fort and Rhys Mathieson.
But disgracefully, none of them are tipped to line up on Saturday.
Ex-Cat Lincoln McCarthy is expected to return from a calf injury and might be Geelong’s best point of connection to the team.
The Cats have a good recent record against the Lions, defeating them in prelims en-route to our last two Grand Finals.
Brisbane is fun team to watch, Charlie Cameron and Joe Daniher are prime time up forward, and their midfield is ballistic, not that Cats fans would’ve recognised that had they watched the round 19 Gabba encounter.
Port Adelaide has a strong case to be Geelong’s second team through the will of one man, Travis Boak.
This could be the Torquay local’s victory lap, following a 300-plus game career that will see him finish as arguably the Power’s best ever player.
It was hard going this long without mentioning 2007, the drought breaking flag win by 119 points, what more do I need to say?
All things considered, I’m jumping behind the Lions, as a Power loss will still feel like a win for Kane Cornes.
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Originally published as September second team: Who Geelong fans should get behind this finals series
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