Party Cats shake off finals hangover
PLAYERS’ SHINDIG KICKS ON
GEELONG’S choirboy Cats have proved to the NRL’s bad boy Bulldogs the best end-ofseason celebrations don’t involve bad behaviour.
Instead, they include clever costumes, cocktails and karaoke.
The Cats did Geelong proud at their annual end-ofseason celebration, Wacky Wednesday, keeping themselves tidy despite a marathon session that for some lasted more than 16 hours.
After making a bold entrance at Newtown’s Lord of the Isles Tavern on Wednesday morning, players paraded their outrageous outfits for the media before making their way to The Sporting Globe on Ryrie St.
Some remained in their outlandish kits for the whole affair, others made their way into casuals, and some played mix and match, with Brandan Parfitt – dressed as Kim Jongun – emerging in a curly blonde wig.
The group was cordoned off in the beer garden, singing, chanting, and drinking throughout the afternoon.
Players mucked around with a basketball, which found its way onto the street before Jackson Thurlow – dressed as an Australian basketballer after the infamous Phillipines brawl – was spotted scurrying out to retrieve it.
They could be heard singing and playing drinking games and the affection among the team was clear, with players frequently embracing one another.
They drank beer and cocktails in between tucking into counter meals and bowls of chips. A group of players kicked on at The Sporting Globe until closing time, and then made their way down Little Malop St to karaoke night at Beav’s Bar.
An eclectic crowd had packed out the venue, and the footy stars were more than happy to get around the punters, taking photos with fans and hitting the dancefloor as a parade of novices serenaded the crowd.
Timm House, who was delisted this week, took to the microphone to belt out ‘ You don’t treat me no good’ by Sonia Dada and iconic Aussie anthem The Horses by Daryl Braithwaite.
As karaoke wound down, players were more than happy to join the crowd on the dancefloor as Wednesday night became Thursday.
Mark Blicavs, dressed as musician Dua Lipa, Cam Gu- thrie, whose fake facial tattoos mimmicking rapper Post Malone had well and truly smudged, and Irishman Mark O’Connor, a leprechaun, were among the group of about 15 players who ho hit up the Little Malop St venue.
As the city recovered from their finals exit, the friendly Cats showed why they’re still Geelong’s favourite sons.