Geelong Mad Monday: Cats players continue Grand Final victory celebrations
No one does Mad Monday quite like Geelong. But even the best in the business outdid themselves this year. See the amazing pictures and videos here.
Geelong has again staked its claim as the greatest team of all – both on the field, and off it.
Just two days after securing this year’s premiership cup with a complete demolition of Sydney, the Cats have claimed best-off-ground honours with some of the best “Mad Monday” get-ups in recent memory.
Complete with transport, a group of the team’s elder statesmen had a sly dig at those who may have written them off as “too old, too slow”, premiership star Patrick Dangerfield said, with a dozen players dressed as retirees.
A bus from a local retirement home was organised by skipper Joel Selwood, who joined Norm Smith medallist Isaac Smith, midfielder Mitch Duncan and defender Zach Tuohy with walking frames.
Asked if it was a message to detractors, Dangerfield could only smile.
“Perhaps,” he told the Herald Sun.
“It’s appropriate – the oldest team ever, coming 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.”
A retirement home bus as Geelong's premiership pensioners arrive for Mad Monday!
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) September 26, 2022
GOLDhttps://t.co/xreMCztdXjpic.twitter.com/aUqgEWUYTt
Geelong players have started arriving for their Mad Monday celebrations!#MadMonday
— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) September 26, 2022
FOLLOW LIVE https://t.co/Z16ejWV40bpic.twitter.com/tYJU9giV47
Sam Moorfoot dressed as Jeremy Cameron 🤣🤣#MadMondayhttps://t.co/Z16ejWV40bpic.twitter.com/RNN63HnwsQ
— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) September 26, 2022
Forward Tom Hawkins, a retiring Shaun Higgins, Mark Blicavs, Rhys Stanley, Jon Ceglar and Sam Menegola rounded out the group.
Smith – referred to as “Norm” by his fellow pensioner pals - even fell out of the bus on his way to the door of the Wharf Hotel in incredible dedication to character.
Dangerfield said he had spent some 90 minutes putting the look together with his hairdresser.
“It’s one thing to do these things and we generally do them pretty well, but I think there’s a little bit of extra sauce on it today because we’ve been lucky enough to win it all,” he said.
“It’s special.”
Forward Jeremy Cameron said he never could have anticipated “how viral” he would go after putting his premiership medallion on a calf that had to be caught in a paddock on his farm.
The medal still hasn’t been washed but Cameron said the smell had somewhat dissipated.
His elaborate chicken costume was a tribute to his feathered friends that – after months of waiting – had finally laid “lucky” eggs on grand final morning, which he had eaten for breakfast ahead of the premiership.
“I thought about bringing the cow in, but I thought a few people would have been a bit unhappy with that and I wasn’t quite sure what I’d do with it afterwards,” he said.
10/10 for @Jezzacameron who has arrived dressed as his now-famous chicken.
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) September 26, 2022
LIVE https://t.co/xreMCzKgZjpic.twitter.com/1IZU7cetz4
“I dressed up like this and taught them how to lay. After a few big nights, I had to sleep in the chicken coop anyway, so here I am.
“They didn’t lay for six months, and now they’re on fire.”
The celebrations were overseen by Wharf Shed owner and former Cat Billy Brownless who dished out beers and coffees to players and club staff.
Team “water boy” Sam Moorfoot came dressed as Cameron, complete with premiership medallion and fishing gear, while Cam and Zach Guthrie came as NHL and Manchester City players respectively.
Tyson Stengle – who hit the DJ decks in Geelong on Sunday night – arrived in an LA Lakers jersey alongside Mark O’Connor and Brandan Parfitt who were in tennis gear.
The team will be feted with a street parade in Geelong on Tuesday, where Moorabool Street has been temporarily renamed “Premiership Way”.
Dangerfield said the heads were feeling “pretty good” after a “wonderful” few days.
“It’s been tough because players have missed out, and they’ve contributed so much to the success that we’ve had,” he said.
“We’re really aware of that and what that means for us. The overwhelming emotion is just proud of the group with what we’ve been able to achieve, and you need luck along the way and we’ve had that this year.
“It was special to play a really great game and collectively achieve what we’ve set out to do.”
Back in character and in elderly voice, Dangerfield added one last quip.
“Too old, too slow, too good,” he croaked.
Too right.
Jeremy Cameron dressed as his now famous chicken 10/10
— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) September 26, 2022
MAD MONDAY LIVE https://t.co/Z16ejWV40bpic.twitter.com/iAfRdytMxR
MAD MONDAY: GEELONG NAME CHANGE AFTER GF WIN
They don’t muck around in Geelong.
Just over 36 hours after the Cats saluted in Saturday’s grand final, the toolbox is out.
Moorabool Street, which runs from Eastern Beach, has had its name temporarily changed to Premiership Way, complete with Cats logo, ahead of a street parade that will swamp the area on Tuesday.
Cats players are set to gather on Geelong’s waterfront from 11am on Monday to continue their celebrations, with the team’s traditional fancy dress also expected to be on show.
Forward Jeremy Cameron will no doubt be keeping a very close eye on his medal after its now-famed bovine encounter in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
The mayor of Geelong was on hand on Monday morning to oversee the change, which was being bolted into place by workers just before 10am.
“The Cats have been so good for so long, so this victory is a fitting reward for the years of hard work and determination. Our dreams have finally come true, and we’re thrilled to dust off the Premiership Way sign again,” Geelong councillor and sport chair Ron Nelson is reported as saying.
“Geelong has really bounced back from two challenging years and footy is the sport that brings our whole town together.”
Mayor Peter Murrihy said tomorrow’s street parade would be “a fantastic opportunity for fans to congratulations coach Chris Scott, all the players, their families and support staff.”
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