HOME CROWD

Footy fans ready to cheer from a distance as Cats face old foe

TENS of thousands of excited Cats fans will watch from afar as their team finally returns to AFL action tonight. The stands will be empty but loungerooms across the region will be full of anticipation as Geelong takes on fierce rival Hawthorn.

THE Geelong Football Club’s b’s most recognisable fan won’t let et social distancing stop him celebrating his beloved Cats’ return to the field tonight.

Troy ‘Catman’ West, renowned for his elaborate face- paint and costume, will make the he trek from Bendigo to celebrate with friends from the Cats cheer squad quad ahead of tonight’s Round 2 clash. .

Fans will have to settle for an n armchair ride of emotion in front of the TV screen but that doesn’t appear to have dampened anticipation for the crowdless Geelong-Hawthorn clash at GMHBA Stadium.

Geelong president Colin Carter acknowledged the unprecedented circumstances, but hoped fans would enjoy the experience regardless.

“It’s great to have footy back; but it’s disappointing that the crowds aren’t there,” he said.

“We absolutely understand the reasons for that from a public health point of view, but it won’t be back in full swing until the crowds are back.”

While West was gutted he couldn’t be in the crowd in his usual costume, he was looking forward to reuniting with friends.

“We plan on screaming at the television from a friend’s house in Geelong with the restricted number of people,” he said. “It was time to bring a bit of the flavour back.”

The tight-knit group, who usually spend up to six months of their lives in the stands supporting their team, haven’t properly caught up since the lockdown was imposed.

“We’re using it as the opportunity to get back into practice,” West said.

The ultimate Cats fan has been dressing for games since 2005. He lifted his game in 2019 with white contact lenses and specially fitted fangs to complete the ensemble.

While he won’t don the full outfit tonight, West said he would make sure he wasn’t out of practice for when crowds were allowed back at the footy.

“There’s something special about footy,” he said. “It unites us. With all the tension going on in the world at the moment, a bit of footy and banter will be a very welcome relief.”