CATS’ TRULY FAN-TASTIC SUPPORTERS
WE put the call out to our readers to find the Geelong Cats’ No. 1 fan and we weren’t disappointed with the response. It was tough to come up with a shortlist of 10, but here they are. Now we need the help of our 10,000 plus subscribers to decide on a winner. Head to geelongadvertiser.com.au to vote for your favourite. The winning prize includes two tickets to the Cats’ first home final and a behind-the-scenes tour for two at GMHBA Stadium.
DELWYN FLACK
Delwyn, 78, has been a Geelong member for more than 40 years and is the cousin of four-time Coleman Medalwinner Doug Wade, so being a footy fan is in her blood.
In her youth, Delwyn would travel from Horsham in western Victoria to sit on the hill at Kardinia Park and watch her beloved team.
Through the late 80s and 90s, when the Cats reached four grand finals, Delwyn camped with friends for up to a week to secure a ticket.
On four occasions between 1989 and 1995, Delwyn and her mates were successful but as fate would have it she never saw a Cats grand final win in that time. Thankfully, Delwyn’s dedication was rewarded in 2007 when she saw the Cats’ triumph over Port Adelaide in person.
BEC TAYLOR
Avid Cats fan Bec Taylor says the Geelong Football Club has helped her get through difficult times living with a permanent disability.
A dedicated supporter since she was young, Bec has decorated her house in Cats memorabilia.
Her walls are adorned in 2007, 2009 and 2011 premiership posters as well as photos of Patrick Dangerfield, her favourite player.
Ms Taylor even gets her parrot, Sammie, into the blue and white theme.
She spends her time fondly creating Cats-themed costumes to wear to games and proudly wears blue and white face paint for her favourite team.
FLETCHER MILLS
This 10-year-old boy’s Armstrong Creek bedroom has been transformed into a Cats shrine, complete with more than 10 signed footballs, scarfs, flags, dolls of his favourite players Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield and a commemorative flag with the names of players who took the field in the Cats 1967 semifinal.
He even sleeps in Cats pyjamas. Pretty soon he’s going to need a bigger bedroom — especially if Geelong go all the way in 2019 like he hopes.
In fact, Fletcher is such a Cats superfan, he will even watch replays of losing games. Thankfully, he hasn’t had to view too many of those this season.
CANDICE ASHLEY
Candice comes from a family of passionate Geelong supporters. Her dad, Philip, came over from England in 1963 when Geelong won the premiership. He bought a Geelong sweet from the milk bar and has followed them ever since.
Candice has followed in his footsteps. Her daughter Belle, 5, comes to every game she and her family goes to.
And then there’s her son, Hunter Joel, named after Geelong’s captain courageous. If that’s not a sign of devotion, then we don’t know what is. It’s even more impressive when you consider Candice’s husband is a Carlton supporter.
DOUG KAYE
When you walk into Doug Kaye’s living room, there’s no mistaking he’s a Cats fan. Almost everywhere you look, you’ll see the famous blue and white. Doug grew up a stone’s throw away from Kardinia Park in Verner St, and the Addy has been reliably informed that Doug has been a Geelong supporter from the moment he was born back on August 31, 1947.
But even more impressive than his Cats fanaticism is Doug’s huge heart and willingness to take care of others, including his mother, who celebrates her 99th birthday in December.
CHERYL LARKIN
Cheryl Larkin has been a fan of the Cats since she was a little girl and started going to games with her mother, whose favourite players were Wayne Closter, Doug Wade and Peter Pianto.
Cheryl inherited that passion for Geelong. She grew up loving the on-field exploits of Andrew Bews and Gary Ablett Sr, and the past few years the likes of Gary Ablett Jr, Corey Enright, Cameron Ling, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield have kept the flame burning brightly.
She decorated her house for the Cats’ three most recent grand final wins (and 2008, but let’s not mention that), and would love to see Geelong win another flag. As she likes to say, the Cats have given her some of the best moments of her life — right up there with her wedding and birth of two daughters.
BETTY BURKE
Betty Burke turned 90 at the end of August, but her passion for the Cats remains as strong as ever. She still attends all of Geelong’s home games and afterwards likes to watch — and re-watch — each and every match, as well as keeping up with all the footy news from her beloved club.
And then there is her Cats shrine room. When you’ve been a Geelong fan as long as Betty, you know it’s going to be impressive. Cuttings, posters, pictures, footballs, jerseys, scarfs — and she still hasn’t finished adding to it. No doubt she would love a 2019 premiership poster to add to her collection.
LEA RODGERS
There is no mistaking Lea Rodgers’ devotion to the Cats. She had her house painted in the team colours of blue and white for six years before her street became heritage listed and she had to change it.
That was a bit of a blow, but they couldn’t take the giant cat away from her front lawn, and it still proudly sits there today.
Even when she’s driving, her club support is on show, with CAT09 and GCAT featuring on her vehicle number plates. She loves everything about the Cats, and loves the game they play.
TROY WEST
Troy West is known as Catman. No prizes for guessing why.
The son of 1963 Geelong premiership player Roy West, Troy was destined to end up supporting the Cats.
But there’s supporting, and then there’s supporting.
It’s fair to say Troy has taken his devotion to the next level, considering he covers himself head to toe in Cats gear and has a huge Cat cave decked out in everything Geelong, from cups and saucers, to lamps and rugs, and even huge paw prints painted on the wall.
COOPER DE VINK
When six-year-old Cooper de Vink is not at school, he spends his time watching replays of Geelong games, kicking the footy and making up his own football games.
Cooper’s mother, Melanie, was born in Geelong and his great grandmother still lives in the city, so supporting the Cats is a family tradition.
Cooper and his mum come down every few weeks to Geelong to take his great grandmother for lunch down at GMHBA stadium.
He always makes sure he waves to the players when he sees them as they walk through, especially his favourite — Tom Hawkins.