I kind of liken Geelong as the subject of that little piece quoted to Rabbi Krustovski by Lisa in the episode where Krusty the clown meets his father. Substituting Geelong for the Jews as mentioned in that little trieste by Sammy Davis Jr, Geelong by and large have always faced the bigger (Melbourne) clubs bravely and put up the good fight. Always daring to be different, maybe eccentric, maybe falling at more hurdles recently than some sides...although Pie fans should realise they have lost many more than six Grand Finals in the period encompassing 40 years or so from our most recent respective flags.
But Geelong has come through. Crap being spouted that Geelong has won just a single flag in this era is pretty limp given that we have only traversed two and a third seasons. We have done weel enough to have our own stadium that earns us money rather than forking out big bucks for the priviledge of playing at Telstra Dome (I will always refer to it as that, just as i call 'Westfield' Bay City Plaza instead). We also play all our home games in the same state as well. We have finished no lower than 12th ever in our history, and have won no fewer than six games in a season since 1971. Other clubs whinge about missing out on priority picks and lament bad draft picks, while we score with a handful of 7's and 8's players like Selwood, Bartel, Corey and Mackie.
We are also a club that obviously breeds sons of players that are keen to play for the jumper. We embrace the father-son rule, and apart from Ben Cousins, we generally succeed in having the son play for us. Some good, some bad, but most will have a go. And Geelong gives them a go as well.
And for those Demon fans who measure celebrate victories like a vagrant picking up a $1 coin from the ground outside a bus stop, the fact we have currently got 50 wins in 53 games is a source of pride to me and i bet all Cat fans. Yes, the 50's and 60's were a grand old time for the Dees, but we have never had to wait 23 years to even make the finals from 1965 to 1987. We at least have got within 10 goals of several of our Grand Final losses, unlike the Dees. And we at least are Geelong, born and bred in our own town, and still there to this day, as we have been for now 150 years. At worst Geelong is like the good samaritan getting a punch in the nose and a kick in the head for piping up having a go, whereas some other clubs's supporters simply like to run with the bully, and be yes men, unwilling to live for their own glories, but merely to ride the coat-tales of the big man on campus, claiming for themselves empty victories devoid of honour.
I'll gladly take my Cats thanks, irrespective of whatever slings and arrows arae tossed at us.
But Geelong has come through. Crap being spouted that Geelong has won just a single flag in this era is pretty limp given that we have only traversed two and a third seasons. We have done weel enough to have our own stadium that earns us money rather than forking out big bucks for the priviledge of playing at Telstra Dome (I will always refer to it as that, just as i call 'Westfield' Bay City Plaza instead). We also play all our home games in the same state as well. We have finished no lower than 12th ever in our history, and have won no fewer than six games in a season since 1971. Other clubs whinge about missing out on priority picks and lament bad draft picks, while we score with a handful of 7's and 8's players like Selwood, Bartel, Corey and Mackie.
We are also a club that obviously breeds sons of players that are keen to play for the jumper. We embrace the father-son rule, and apart from Ben Cousins, we generally succeed in having the son play for us. Some good, some bad, but most will have a go. And Geelong gives them a go as well.
And for those Demon fans who measure celebrate victories like a vagrant picking up a $1 coin from the ground outside a bus stop, the fact we have currently got 50 wins in 53 games is a source of pride to me and i bet all Cat fans. Yes, the 50's and 60's were a grand old time for the Dees, but we have never had to wait 23 years to even make the finals from 1965 to 1987. We at least have got within 10 goals of several of our Grand Final losses, unlike the Dees. And we at least are Geelong, born and bred in our own town, and still there to this day, as we have been for now 150 years. At worst Geelong is like the good samaritan getting a punch in the nose and a kick in the head for piping up having a go, whereas some other clubs's supporters simply like to run with the bully, and be yes men, unwilling to live for their own glories, but merely to ride the coat-tales of the big man on campus, claiming for themselves empty victories devoid of honour.
I'll gladly take my Cats thanks, irrespective of whatever slings and arrows arae tossed at us.
? With the Saints history of stuffing things up, I'd be keeping a lid on it down at Moorabbin!
