Outrage in backlash against Geelong’s Mad Monday premiership stunt
Geelong stars have been accused of “demoralising” fans in a backlash against the team’s Mad Monday premiership celebrations.
Geelong players have been accused of leaving old football fans “demoralised” in an extraordinary reaction to the club’s Mad Monday celebrations.
Cats players assembled at a Geelong watering hole on Monday where their premiership celebrations stretched into a third day.
Footy fans widely applauded the team’s over-the-top costumes, which were headlined by a dozen players, including captain Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield, arriving in a retirement village bus dressed as elderly people.
Those players delivered a not-so-subtle reminder to all the critics who wrote them off this year.
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Dangerfield spoke briefly to reporters on Monday morning and confirmed the gimmick was designed to stick it to the commentators that labelled the team too old and too slow to win a premiership.
The criticism has clearly been a theme within the football club this year — as was shown in the club’s social media post following the final siren in their 81-point thrashing of the Swans at the MCG.
Too old, too slow, too good 👴ðŸ»ðŸ† The cup will look great down at the retirement home #Untameablepic.twitter.com/kNJPHYDQss
— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) September 24, 2022
The Cats played the final with the oldest team to ever win a VFL/AFL premiership.
The players clearly enjoyed reminding everyone of that fact.
Led by Dangerfield, a party of Cats players limped out of the bus in front of TV cameras dressed as senior citizens.
Norm Smith Medallist Isaac Smith also pretended to fall to the ground as he got off the bus before he was helped back to his feet by Dangerfield.
The former Adelaide star told The Herald Sun Selwood was the genius behind the stunt.
“Well, it’s appropriate - the oldest team ever,” he said.
“Coming in on the retirement bus. To be honest, most of their movements aren’t that put on, that’s probably the most concerning part about it all.”
He went on to say: “I think there’s a little bit of extra sauce on it today, because we were lucky enough to win it all.”
The stunt took a twist on Monday afternoon with public discussions suggesting the players may have been out of line “belittling” the elderly.
The debate was discussed on 3AW radio in Melbourne with talkback callers claiming to have been “demoralised” by the spectacle.
A listener called Norman sent the show a message, saying: “I don’t see the funny side of belittling the elderly.
“I think it will taint Joel Selwood’s accolades from Saturday.”
Selwood was widely praised for several classy acts during and following the grand final win, including one gesture for Cats fan Sam Moorfoot, who has Down syndrome, that went viral in the United States.
Other fans and listeners also took offence at the Cats’ Mad Monday display.
A listener referred to as Diana called into the show to say: “ I disagree. I think it was inappropriate.
“I retired last year and I seem to be the butt of a lot of jokes lately.
“I’m demoralised by people saying you’re old and there are old jokes on the radio. And jokes on TV and belittling the elderly. I don’t agree with it at all.
“In this day and age, we should be better than that.”
Other people posted messages on Twitter condemning the spectacle.
Disgusted at this stunt. Those in this situation everyday because of circumstances beyond their control do not have to be made fun of by these people. This reduced my wife to tears. Living this way is not a matter of choice. Those who do would love to kick a football for $.
— Glenn Loughrey (@glennloughrey) September 26, 2022
#Geelong I know why they did it’s interesting that you can have a go at the elderly and thats fine, yet everything else is off limits. Having just put my dad in aged care and watching his health decline, old age and lack of mobility isno laughing matter. GFC, just think about it pic.twitter.com/fFL0IAcYzC
— Christopher Brumby (@cbrumby) September 26, 2022
There were many more commentators on social media who rolled their eyes at the suggestions the Cats had crossed the line.
Former Cats star Josh Jenkins wrote on Twitter: “The most ironic part of people criticising Geelong players for making fun of old people is they themselves were criticised for being too old”.
3AW host Dee Dee Dunleavy also disagreed with the callers offended by Geelong’s jest.
“It’s not ageism or wokeism, I don’t know what it is,” she said.
“How can you be offended by someone in an old people’s costume? I do not know.
“I disagree on it because I found it very funny. They weren’t having a go. They weren’t saying old people are terrible. They were saying old people can win AFL grand finals. It’s not as if they were saying old people are hopeless and can’t do anything.”
While countless players shuffled past in hilarious, extravagant rags, arguably the best threads were worn by former Giants star Jeremy Cameron, who arrived dressed as a chicken.
The star forward spoke after the grand final about how his chickens had finally laid eggs.
While club spiritual leader Moorfoot, who has gone viral in recent days, arrived dressed as country boy Cameron, complete with cowboy hat and a No. 5 Geelong jumper.
Here are some of the most eye-grabbing costumes on the day.
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