Cats’ secret weapon

TODAY we have turned over our front page to the Cats’ secret weapon.

No, it’s not Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood or even one of Geelong’s group of exciting youngsters who are about to taste finals footy for the first time.

The Cats’ secret weapon is this city — and its legion of passionate, dedicated fans who are the heart and soul of all that makes the club great.

Ask any retiring Cats player or former champion and they will tell you the power and inspiration that comes from having such a dedicated and passionate fan base.

Anybody who witnessed the celebrations following the 2007 premiership win knows just how deep that love and dedication goes. It was not just the supporters but the whole city that came together to celebrate. There was dancing in the streets and an economic boost that reflected the pure joy and optimism felt throughout the region.

It is part of the benefits of being the only Victorian oneclub town.

The city and the club Geelong are inextricably linked. Fans and players share the same cafes, supermarkets and city pride. Their kids go to the same schools.

The Melbourne media have made a lot of noise about the “Tiger Army” — the 74,000 club members who have been starved of success in recent years. The sheer number of them has been used as justification for the Cats not getting the true home final that would usually be just reward for finishing second.

But numbers are not everything. An army of 74,000 is no match for the support of an entire city.

Tonight, Cats fans of all ages will be sharing the journey in search of September glory.

No amount of recent success will silence us or lessen our desire to win.

Tonight it is not just the players battling it out on the MCG, it is the whole town. We are in this together.

Because we are Geelong. And we’ll be with you all the way until — hopefully — the last Saturday in September.

Go Cats.