Biffinator
Norm Smith Medallist
Comrades.
I have never warmed to Geelong. Perhaps my dislike is attributable to their moniker ‘The Cats’ (could it be any worse?), their Plain-Jane jumper and all the yokels who live in the village itself.
Nevertheless, let us be objective.
Even though they have been in the league since the beginning, Geelong has never dominated an era, unlike say Collingwood, Melbourne, Essendon, Richmond, Hawthorn, Carlton or Brisbane. They bob up every so often and that's about it. Even so, they are on very good terms with themselves.
They have won a mere seven premierships, one less than Fitzroy. And they only won in 1951 because Coleman was injured, and lurched over the line in 1963 because Barassi was out suspended.
That’s a shithouse return for a club that has a large supporter base and boasts such an immense home-ground advantage - plain shithouse.
Forget 2007 and take a step back: why has Geelong has been prepared to accept such mediocrity over the decades, all the way back to 1896?
Answer: they just love being hometown heroes.
Even if they lube up in a Grand Final, well, they’re still feted by the Geelong Advertiser, or do voice-overs on K Rock, or are offered free roots in the car park by members of the Cheer Squad (well, we could mention some names here, couldn’t we) or - best of all - get to hang around with Billy Brownless and his frothies on Malop street.
Ah, the allure of being a medium-sized fish in a small pond.
Mental weakness is a manifestation of Hometown Hero syndrome.
Ignoring many other examples, just think of 1995 Grand Final, for instance.
It’s not as if Geelong did the Elimination Final death race to the Grand Final (unlike Collingwood in 1980, Essendon in 1983 or Melbourne in 1988). They had the talent to prevail on the day. But after running through the banner, out came the lippy, the pleated skirts and the Louis Vuitton handbags. No matter: they were still heroes in the eyes of K Rock and the Geelong Addy.
Sadly, both St Kilda and Freo have been accursed from the very beginning. University’s ineptitude is legendary. Even so, none of them were blessed with the natural advantages that Geelong has had from the very beginning. That’s why, in my mind, Geelong is the greatest long term failure of them all.
For all the scintillating football Geelong has played over the years (it naturally attracts the lairs), it has failed to translate style into dominance.
Yep, Geelong may win a premiership this year. Even so, until they pass Fitzroy on the Premiership Table, to say nothing of making it into double digits, they are always going to be the Handbaggers in my mind – soft, long-term failures.
I can hear the barking of Chihuahuas in the background. Let’s hear what they have to say.
Biffinator.
I have never warmed to Geelong. Perhaps my dislike is attributable to their moniker ‘The Cats’ (could it be any worse?), their Plain-Jane jumper and all the yokels who live in the village itself.
Nevertheless, let us be objective.
Even though they have been in the league since the beginning, Geelong has never dominated an era, unlike say Collingwood, Melbourne, Essendon, Richmond, Hawthorn, Carlton or Brisbane. They bob up every so often and that's about it. Even so, they are on very good terms with themselves.
They have won a mere seven premierships, one less than Fitzroy. And they only won in 1951 because Coleman was injured, and lurched over the line in 1963 because Barassi was out suspended.
That’s a shithouse return for a club that has a large supporter base and boasts such an immense home-ground advantage - plain shithouse.
Forget 2007 and take a step back: why has Geelong has been prepared to accept such mediocrity over the decades, all the way back to 1896?
Answer: they just love being hometown heroes.
Even if they lube up in a Grand Final, well, they’re still feted by the Geelong Advertiser, or do voice-overs on K Rock, or are offered free roots in the car park by members of the Cheer Squad (well, we could mention some names here, couldn’t we) or - best of all - get to hang around with Billy Brownless and his frothies on Malop street.
Ah, the allure of being a medium-sized fish in a small pond.
Mental weakness is a manifestation of Hometown Hero syndrome.
Ignoring many other examples, just think of 1995 Grand Final, for instance.
It’s not as if Geelong did the Elimination Final death race to the Grand Final (unlike Collingwood in 1980, Essendon in 1983 or Melbourne in 1988). They had the talent to prevail on the day. But after running through the banner, out came the lippy, the pleated skirts and the Louis Vuitton handbags. No matter: they were still heroes in the eyes of K Rock and the Geelong Addy.
Sadly, both St Kilda and Freo have been accursed from the very beginning. University’s ineptitude is legendary. Even so, none of them were blessed with the natural advantages that Geelong has had from the very beginning. That’s why, in my mind, Geelong is the greatest long term failure of them all.
For all the scintillating football Geelong has played over the years (it naturally attracts the lairs), it has failed to translate style into dominance.
Yep, Geelong may win a premiership this year. Even so, until they pass Fitzroy on the Premiership Table, to say nothing of making it into double digits, they are always going to be the Handbaggers in my mind – soft, long-term failures.
I can hear the barking of Chihuahuas in the background. Let’s hear what they have to say.
Biffinator.
