Coach Scott’s special dedication as Geelong lauds its premiership heroes

Cries of “Gee-long” were heard reverberating across the Geelong waterfront as 25,000 footy fans came out in force for the Cats’ 2022 premiership parade.

Even the rain stayed away as fans lined the streets decked out in navy-and-white scarves, guernseys and flags to see the AFL’s champion team in the flesh.

Chris Scott and Joel Selwood before the big crowd at the parade in Geelong.Credit: Getty Images

Tuesday’s event was a family-friendly affair for Geelong, which had been dubbed Dad’s Army by some unkind pundits because its playing list was among the oldest in AFL history.

On Tuesday, that maturity was on show as some players took their children with them in the 1.5-kilometre parade to mark the club’s first premiership in 11 years.

Geelong coach Chris Scott declared the day was for the club’s youngest supporters, noting that his own daughter Leila, 9, would be a Cats fan for the rest of her life.

“I’m just so proud of our people,” Scott said. “The last few years have been so hard and I think we deserve a chance to just sit back and enjoy it.”

The champion team at the premiers parade in Geelong.Credit: Getty Images

“Looking around at all the young fans who wouldn’t have been around in 2011; this is for you. You’ll remember this for the rest of your life.”

Scott, who admitted to being “a bit overwhelmed” but “so grateful”, was joined by his players on stage on the foreshore to speak to the fans.

There were a few dusty heads and lost voices, with skipper Joel Selwood noting some teammates had been “feeling flat before we jumped off the bus. But seeing everyone today picked us up.”

Selwood dodged questions about his possible retirement but reflected on the grand final.

“It all went to plan and even better. There were seriously so many good moments,” Selwood said. “We love sharing the journey.”

When Geelong won its drought-breaking 2007 premiership, homegrown star Cameron Ling was made mayor for the day. Selwood didn’t snag that title this time but was instead gifted a large flag emblazoned with his own portrait.

“[My wife] Britt will be thrilled. Not sure what we’ll do with that. We’ll have to get a flag pole out the front,” he said.

Norm Smith Medal winner Isaac Smith, holding daughter Isla, joked that as an older, wiser premiership winner, he had managed to get some sleep during the ongoing celebration since Saturday’s thumping 81-point grand final win over the Sydney Swans.

“We’re very lucky. There’s been an awful lot of support these last few days,” Smith said.

Geelong erupted into party mode the moment the final siren sounded at the packed MCG on Saturday.

More than 1000 people watched the match on big screens from a live site at Kardinia Park on Saturday, and within minutes of the result being confirmed throngs of fans flooded into Geelong’s CBD, blowing horns, dancing and stopping traffic.

An impromptu game of kick-to-kick at one of the city’s busiest intersections lasted into the early hours of Sunday morning.

Thousands returned to Kardinia Park on Sunday to greet the players for the club’s family day. The revelling calmed on Monday as supporters nursed sore heads and the players gathered for their traditional Mad Monday dress-up party.

Player of the finals Patrick Dangerfield said it was special to celebrate with local fans, describing the win as “everything you hope for in a career”.

“Not everyone would have been able to get up to the [MC]G for the game or the parade, so to be able to share it with the community today; you mean the world to us.”

The children in the crowd were all smiles after Scott dedicated the parade to them.

Cats fans cheer Tuesday’s parade.Credit: Getty Images

A Cats fan his whole life, Jedd, 11, from Williamstown, said it had been “so good” to get back from a family holiday to Bali on Sunday, just in time to join the celebrations along with siblings, Olive, 9, and Alfie, 7, and grandparents Tony and Carol Rossiter.

Carol said: “It’s great to bring the kids over and celebrate the win with them ... We’re going to enjoy the moment.”

Tony and Carol Rossiter with grandchildren Alfie (left), Jedd and Olive.Credit: Sophie Aubrey

Kylie Macfarlane said Scott’s comments struck a chord with her kids – 10-year-old twins Grace and Maddie, and Jackson, 7 – who, like their dad Matt, were keen Cats fans.

“They had big smiles on their faces,” Macfarlane said. “They felt he’d involved them in the day and the win as well.

“There were a lot of kids down here out to support the Cats, and it was amazing to see.”

Matt Macfarlane with wife Kylie, 10-year-old twin daughters Grace and Maddie and seven-year-old Jackson during Geelong’s premiership parade.Credit: Sophie Aubrey

Harry, 8, and Tommy, 7, attended with their nanny Pam Morrow, who, after a lifetime supporting the Cats, was delighted to be celebrating another premiership with a new generation of supporters.

Tuesday’s parade also showcased Geelong’s picturesque waterfront, which has been redeveloped in recent years.

Pam Morrow with grandsons Harry, 8, and Tommy, 7, during Geelong’s premiership parade. Credit: Sophie Aubrey

For Scott, the skipper Selwood and teammates Tom Hawkins and Mitch Duncan the parade must have revived memories of the cub’s last premiership in 2011, which they were all a part of.

However, the city has changed dramatically in those intervening years.

Despite losing hundreds of manufacturing jobs, particularly at Alcoa and Ford, Geelong’s civic leaders talk about the city having newfound swagger, pointing to the city’s recent population boom.

The National Disability Insurance Agency, Transport Accident Commission and WorkSafe Victoria all now have their headquarters in Geelong, and pubs, bars and restaurants are flourishing in the CBD.

Geelong mayor Peter Murrihy said the premiership would further boost the city’s spirit and economy after the pain of extended lockdowns.

“I mean just look at how happy people are. They’re not getting sick of this [club] song at all ... and to see them out in the numbers they were today just proves what an impact the footy club has on this city,” Murrihy said.

“People have hung around since the Saturday, and it’s school holidays, so the accommodation, the hospitality places have all been booked out.”

“It’s been incredible. It really lifts the mood in the community. It’s brought people together.”

In 2011, the exposure of the Cats’ premiership was substantial. Figures supplied by the council showed the grand final parade that year generated $4.8 million worth of media coverage.

Hawkins, who kicked the first two goals of Saturday’s grand final, left his two daughters and baby son at home on Tuesday, noting it had been “a big few days, if you haven’t been able to tell from our voices”.

“It’s nice to be able to do this,” he said.

Fellow forward Jeremy Cameron, his premiership medal retrieved from his cow, albeit with a few scratches, said: “It was such a fantastic year, and great to have all the crowd here today.”

Meanwhile, Irishman Zach Tuohy played his 250th game on Saturday and joked the revelry since had been a blur. “I’ve been told I had a great time. In the pictures I look happy,” he quipped.

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