Local tribal loyalty

GEELONG is blessed to be the only Victorian regional city to boast its own AFL team.

The blue and white hoops are inextricably linked to the city itself and our region’s fortunes are often influenced by what has happened on the scoreboard.

It has helped that the Cats have enjoyed such sustained success in recent years.

Three premierships in five years — after enduring a 44year drought — cemented the passion of a generation of fans, and the impressive facilities at Kardinia Park are a showpiece of the importance of the club to the region.

Now we prepare to embark on another AFL finals campaign that has the potential to deliver more success — and an associated financial boost — to our city. But while the nation’s eyes will be on the MCG for Friday night’s monster clash between the Cats and Tigers, there will be many others invested in the action at a more local level.

Last weekend’s AFL bye round showcased that there is much more to football in Geelong than simply the Cats.

While the AFL shut up shop for the weekend, fans had no shortage of footy action to choose from, with finals staged for every local league and a twoday carnival of every junior football grand final.

It is often at this micro level that the true essence of football can be found. The tribal loyalties that were present at the formation of the former Victorian Football League again come to the fore as town takes on town in a battle for regional bragging rights. Communities are galvanised as neighbours come together bonded by their geographical loyalty.

This weekend the tribal battle continues with the football and netball grand finals being held in the Bellarine Football League, preliminary finals in the GDFL and semis in the GFL. Junior netball premierships will be decided Friday night and Saturday morning.

We are a proud and passionate community and we love our sport. The Cats may be the public face of football in Geelong, but you will find the heart at a local sporting ground.