So why are you a Cats fan?

[Footy_Fan2007]

My family barrack for the cats. I guess thats the short answer. Ive been going to games since i was pretty young, but really got involed in the mid 90's. Ive grown to love this club so much. They got me through an extremely difficult time on my life in 2007. To take my mind off things i went to every game in victoria that year. They didn't let me down. They put a massive smile on my face every week.

The club is just such a big part of my life, and always will be. Hard to explain just what it means to me.

 

[Churros]

It was 1994, and I was 9 years old. We just moved to Perth from Canada. My parents were Melburnian, and were already supporting a team (Footscray).

I started school in WA surrounded by West Coast bandwagoners, so naturally I swayed towards the Eagles (note, the only teams I knew were Footscray, Carlton, Collingwood, Richmond and Footscray).

Come the '94 GF, I had just found out about the Cats. In fact the Cats were the last team I found out about. Geelong lost that day, and for some reason I felt a certain sadness overcome me, stronger than it should have been...way too strong for the archrival opposition team.

Every other side WC beat, I would cheer for a week. But when they beat the Cats I would go into a period of silence.

I also seemed to be more happy about Geelong's victories than West Coast's, and found myself envying Geelong's list instead of bragging about the Eagles'.

It was early 1995 when I finally decided to become a Cats supporter, and I have had no regrets since that day.

Felt great meeting up with my friends from Perth last week and rubbing the finals win in their faces!

 

[samtheman1979]

My Grandfather played for Geelong in the late 40's and since I was born and bred here and am still here 32 years later I barrack for Geelong.

I remember going to the footy as a kid, sitting in the past players with my old man and Pop then when pop got sick the old man and I stood in the outer for a couple of seasons then we got seats in front of the Ford Stand for a couple more seasons and when they built the now Reg Hickey stand we moved into it, top level, 3 rows from the back right on centre wing.

I count myself very lucky seeing Geelong as successful as they are. My Pop passed away prior to the 2007 flag so he hasn't really got to see this side in full flight and I dare say not many of us will see something like this happen ever again.

 

[hoops1]

I've long been a bit of a 'lurker' around here, but thought I might contribute to this thread as it pretty much applies to all of us! Being from western vic, my entire extended family were Geelong fans (especially on Dad's side of the family). So, it broke Dad's heart, when I was 5 or 6 and my best mate supported Richmond, when I came home from school one day and said I was a Tigers fan!! I was 'told off' and literally locked in my room till I came to my senses. Luckily I did, and around the same time, started watching MOTD for the EPL on ABC and fell in love with Cantona and MUFC. Fair to say I've had a priveliged existence!

 

[Claude Balls]

I actually barracked for Melbourne and then Hawthorn before switching to the cats. But before you jump all over me, that was because my Dad (a mad Geelong supportor) has always been averse to influencing me directly by persuasion. So when the Hawks beat us in 1989, I was technically, at the age of 6 and in my second year of primary school, a hawk! But I switched thereafter of my own accord, as I started to pay more attention. By 1995, at the age of 12, I was a committed follower at my dad`s side, and that year I experienced my first sport related heartache. The first really unbearable pain however didn`t come until the prelim of 2004, and then even worse, the semi of 2005. 2008 almost made me leave the country on a whim. I had to be talked out of the idea of buying a one way ticket on impulse.

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

Re: So why are you actually a cats fan?

When i was eight, I was in RCH having two colapsed lungs the staff thought I was about to die, they asked me if I had a wish they could grant me. This was1962, the biggest star on childrens TV was Happy Hammond, so I asked if I could meet him. At that time Happy was the number one ticket holder at Geelong. To cut a long story short, he came and spent all day Saturday at my bedside, he missed the Geelong game, but listened to it on an old Astor radio. I decided that day that if I survived I would support the Cats forever, so here I am 49 years latter a Cats nut. Cheers

That's a great story. Was it 63 when he ran out with the team?

 

[longtimecat]

Re: So why are you actually a cats fan?

I believe that is right, he was a passionate cats man, but more than that was a good human.

 

[mustafish]

i was 8 years old when i watched the 89 grand final although geelong lost there was this 1 guy called ablett, i turned to my dad at the end of that game and said sorry im no longer a bulldog i love that ablett and wana go watch every game he plays. ever since then ive always wore number 5 when playing and also been a passionate geelong supporter since.............people give it to me always about how i changed sides but i see it as when your born you have no choice, your always going to listen to your parents as soon as i was old enough to relise i made my decision and havent turned back and never will....

 

[candiehappy]

there are some sensational stories here. mine not exciting. My parents lived in Geelong for a couple of years before I was born and just inherited the cats. But I still curse them for t;lkeaving, I would much rather have grown in Geelong than Melbourne.

love longtimecat story the best

 

[MOONEY 21]

i had no choice. The stripes were put on me since birth. My dad migrated from england in 62 and followed the cats because he loved the way they played.

heres me in 1983. I still have this jumper, ready to give to my first born son when he arrives one day.

CARN THE CATTERS!

 

[Varcoe2Chapman]

Thank you so much for sharing these stories. They are absolutely amazing.

For me, my immediate family is half Geelong half Essendon. Extended family is mainly Geelong. So my early childhood was dominated by which team to support. And such was my indecisiveness i went for Fremantle for the first two rounds of 1995. Then my brother who is Geelong started taking me to more Geelong games and i began loving players. The day that clinched was mid-1995 when Ablett Snr. destroyed Richmond single handedly at G. From then i have never turned back. I have been through the thick and thin and always worn my heart on my sleeve. FOrunately i was in my teens during the rise of our young talent (01 draft) so i my long term memories will be of these years.

I just love this football club. The legacy the current group will leave for the youngsters is sensational. With Joel Selwood leading the troops for the next ten years we're gonna be fine.

 

[Bz3rkCatsFan]

My Pa died of cancer when I was 7. The only real memories I have of him are watching the cats play. Sitting on his lap, watching the likes of Ablett Snr - G.hocking - B.Graham - B.Brownless, seeing the passion in his eyes, knowing that the blue and white running through his veins had been passed on to me. In the end, as the whole family stood around his hospital bed, he wrote on a piece of paper "im going to have a sleep now, did the cats win" they did and ever since then, I know its not just a game. As I sit and watch the MIGHTY CATS play every week with my children, I know that he is right there with us, feeling everything we feel. I named my son after him and I know both my children will carry on the Geelong pride after im gone.

 

[BigCats96]

Re: So why are you actually a cats fan?

Born into a family of three-generations of Essendon locals, therefore a family of die-hard Bombers supporters. I wanted to break the mold - just my nature to do so.

Started supporting the Cats when I was eight (in 2004), been a Catters fan since. Become an even bigger fan since we moved to Geelong itself.

Traditional for the family to go to the Cats-Bombers game, and this year they really put it into me cause we lost. No matter though, they're gonna be cheering for the Cats tomorrow.

 

[catman 71]

Today is a big reason why I follow Geelong. Just the exhiliration of winning our third flag in five years makes me know that I picked the right team.

Here's my history of following Geelong.

I didn't really follow footy as a kid. I had a leaning towards Carlton, but only because I liked Jezza. Once the Blues sacked Jezza (after winning them a flag), I dumped them.

I then moved to QLD between 1981-86, and didn't follow any team. There was no Brisbane Bears, so my interest in AFL was minimal.

Moved back in '87, discovered AFL footy, and wanted to find a team.

Then I saw Geelong play, and saw Gary Ablett Snr. Some of the things he could do with the footy drew me in, and I started to take an interest in the Cats.

In 1989, I loved watching us kick massive scores against teams, and, as well as Ablett, I liked watching Paul Couch, Garry Hocking, Billy Brownless, and Mark Bairstow. Also liked the quirkiness of Malcolm Blight's coaching.

I felt disappointment when we lost in 1989, but was proud of them.

I cried when we lost the GF to WCE in '92. I was convinced that we would win it.

Over the years, my love for the Cats have grown. One of my greatest thrills was being there when we won the 2009 GF.

Today, I am even more proud. Can't wait for next year, and hope to see many more flags!

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Re: So why are you Cats fan?

First game of footy I saw live I was 11 an it was a game between the Swans and the Cats at the SCG in '87 as part of a state wide Primary school championship football carnival weekend.

This was the time when Edison owned the Swan's and they would play a god awful song after every Swan goal, after early Swan's goals I thought stuff this I'm going for the Cats.

Funny thing was our seats just happened to be next to the Geelong cheer squad that day so they were pointing out which player was which so I quickly learnt the names Gazza, Excell, The Prez, Bewsy etc and I was hooked from that day on

I was at that game too! lol

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Thank you so much for sharing these stories. They are absolutely amazing.

For me, my immediate family is half Geelong half Essendon. Extended family is mainly Geelong. So my early childhood was dominated by which team to support. And such was my indecisiveness i went for Fremantle for the first two rounds of 1995. Then my brother who is Geelong started taking me to more Geelong games and i began loving players. The day that clinched was mid-1995 when Ablett Snr. destroyed Richmond single handedly at G. From then i have never turned back. I have been through the thick and thin and always worn my heart on my sleeve. FOrunately i was in my teens during the rise of our young talent (01 draft) so i my long term memories will be of these years.

I just love this football club. The legacy the current group will leave for the youngsters is sensational. With Joel Selwood leading the troops for the next ten years we're gonna be fine.

I was at that game, it was my first visit to the G and couldn't find a seat. Ended up sitting in the Members (SCG reciprocal rights) in an all Tigers section lol I was the only Cats supporter in that area. Every time Geelong kicked a goal, well Ablett Sr really, all this stuff rained down upon me. I was so excited because it was like tic-a-tape at a GF and I remember thinking how amazing it was to have tic-a-tape after every Cats goal! By the third quarter I realised it was actually the Tigers fans throwing rubbish at me rofl I'd never experienced anything like the G before that game, it was incredible.

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Other than the obvious - with the nickname Kitty, is there any other team to support? (Nickname is really Pussy, but wasn't allowed to use it online)

Living in Sydney, my Dad to me to suburban VFL games from the age of three, and we watched VFL on telly. Sunday mornings were my favourite time, my parents sleeping in after a dinner party and I'd eat the chocolate mousse or pavlova leftovers for breakfast and watch the VFL footy shows. Adored Bobby Davis. Then VFL exhibition games were played at the SCG to promote the game in NSW. I wasn't really aware of any teams, until a boy invited me to an exhibition game, My father didn't want me to go because our tickets were on the infamous SCG 'Hill'. I must have nagged him, or Mum talked him round and off I went!

Now this is where it gets really embarrassing - I remember watching the game and falling madly in love with a tall, rugged looking Geelong player and checking the record to discover his name was John Newman. My fate was sealed! Pussy/Kitty and in love with John Newman, what other team could there possible be for me but the Cats!

My next major crush was on Ablett Sr - my heart still flutters for him lol

Although too old for girlhood crushes now, my heart still belongs to our beloved, magnificent and mighty Geelong Cats!

 

[Feline]

Re: So why are you actually a cats fan?
Because I was brought up decently.

I probably didn't have a choice. I lived in Geelong, all my family barracked for the cats, everyone in my class at school barracked for Geelong, the whole community seemed to be decked out in blue and white especially at finals time. I can remember being laughed at as a little kid when I announced that some places in Melbourne were named after football teams. I don't know what would have happened if I'd ever considered barracking for anyone else, but the thought never occurred to me. It was part of the family routine to listen to 3GL (even when I was left with a neighbour as I was too young to be interested in going to the footy but the games were part of the background noise of my early childhood) to watch either the Tony Charlton Footy Show or later World of Sport over the Sunday roast and eventually to go to the footy for every Geelong game and some at Footscray and the MCG. In those days we would buy tickets for the entire finals series and would sell the tickets for games where Geelong weren't playing. I can remember when we lost, my mother would pull out the rest of the series tickets and ask if anyone nearby wanted to buy them. It didn't occur to anyone to be a scalper in those days and they were gone in seconds. I've seen a lot of games - some good, some heartbreaking, but it seems that Geelong have always played the game as it should be played - from the days when Polly Farmer introduced his own style with so much handpassing, to the brilliance of Gazza senior to the more recent glory days. Whatever happens in future I'll still be here barracking for the Cats.

 

[Vdubs]

As of this year, I have now been a Geelong supporter for 50 = FIFTY years.
Does make me old for sure, but at least reading these stories and writing some helps us recall what we might end up losing.
Actually my memory for things Geelong is way better than short term stuff, like where the hell is my wallet, and my keys?
Got my first membership in 1964, and went to my first game in 1963.
"Fred", don't know if you were there when we were kids, but we used to stand , stand being the operative word, for all of 6 hours alongside the players' race to smell that liniment and spot the players coming in and out.
Saw Geoff Rosenow v Allan Killigrew up close.

 

[FredLeDeux]

As of this year, I have now been a Geelong supporter for 50 = FIFTY years.
Does make me old for sure, but at least reading these stories and writing some helps us recall what we might end up losing.
Actually my memory for things Geelong is way better than short term stuff, like where the hell is my wallet, and my keys?
Got my first membership in 1964, and went to my first game in 1963.
"Fred", don't know if you were there when we were kids, but we used to stand , stand being the operative word, for all of 6 hours alongside the players' race to smell that liniment and spot the players coming in and out.
Saw Geoff Rosenow v Allan Killigrew up close.

No, the whole family (Mum, Dad, plus me and my younger brother with our little fold-up footstools) originally through the 50s/60s used to stand in the outer, but later on (late 60s into the 70s) we used to go over and stand near the race; like you said, much more fun, much more atmosphere.
Great players in the 60s, great times, been worth every minute of it, even the 44 years - but I don't know if I'd be saying that had it now stretched out to 50 years!

 

[vinum coupe]

Footstools!
I can clearly remember standing on steel beer cans at K Park.

Ok, not so clearly anymore.

 

[Vdubs]

No, the whole family (Mum, Dad, plus me and my younger brother with our little fold-up footstools) originally through the 50s/60s used to stand in the outer, but later on (late 60s into the 70s) we used to go over and stand near the race; like you said, much more fun, much more atmosphere.
Great players in the 60s, great times, been worth every minute of it, even the 44 years - but I don't know if I'd be saying that had it now stretched out to 50 years!

I think the scars of being the butt of jokes like " Q: which team will win the flag this year ?
A: whichever team plays Geelong,"
have slowly healed with our amazing last 7 years.
And when we think of Demons, Dogs and Saints fans, we are so blessed.

 

[catinthemachine]

Wow, there are some amazing stories here,
It shows how this club and indeed this game have helped make all our lives richer

Mine is a simple story. My fathers family came from Lara and all barracked for Geelong. From the cradle if I wanted to eat or remain under the same roof as my dad I had to barrack for the cats. I was angry at this for many years, why was I doomed to barrack for and love a team that I had seen get so close to a flag but never clinch one. My father last saw them win one when he was a teenager. It was his simple abiding faith that inspired me and my brothers to hold to the cause.
Thankyou Dad!
This last few years have more than repaid years of pain.

 

[mac_cat]

My next major crush was on Ablett Sr - my heart still flutters for him lol

Since the start of the 90s, I've always gone to the Geelong-Richmond games with my sister (Cats fan) and brother-in-law (Tigers fan). I have many wonderful memories of Garry Senior absolutely destroying the Tigers at the MCG .

In my memory every game was a lovely sunny autumn day, and Gaz Sr seemed to kick at least 10 goals. What wasn't there to love about him

 

[GeelongFTW]

I'm sure there's been 1 millions threads about this in the past but whilst passing a brick in my pants about this Saturday (and it being only Wednesday) I thought about how I came to support Geelong in the first place and put myself through such shenadigans when I'm not actually from Corio Bay.

I was 8 years old, it was 1985 and on 'The Winners' they showed Hawthorn V Geelong..the match where Neville Bruns had his jaw broken by lethal. I remember that game for that but also because the man below is the reason I started supporting the cats as a kid...

Haven't regretted the decision since.

Because I saw geelong play Richmond in 2005. Geelong were winning so they were now my favourite team! I was so close to being a Richmond supporter! Lucky I made the right choice. Ps don't judge, I was only a little kid