Q&A: FORMER CAT AND TIGER CRAIG BIDDISCOMBE
CRAIG Biddiscombe’ s AFL career started at Geelong in 1995 and ended at Richmond in 2003.
Still based in Geelong, Craig spoke to the Geelong Advertiser’s GREG DUNDAS this week about the big game.
GD: Bidders, you played 34 games for Geelong before playing 44 for Richmond, but you’re more of a Tigers supporter these days. Was that the case before you entered the AFL?
CB: Nope. I couldn’t stand Richmond. I grew up following Footscray because my dad was a passionate Bulldogs supporter and we lived in Traralgon, which was the Bulldogs’ recruiting zone years ago.
I loved everything about Doug Hawkins. I used to wear my footy shorts hitched up at the left hip like Doug when I played footy in the backyard.
In my first AFL game for Geelong, I actually spent some time playing on Doug when he was playing for Fitzroy, which was pretty surreal.
That 1994 finals series in my first season at Geelong was incredible. Billy kicked a goal after the siren to sink the
Dogs, there was the semi-final win over Carlton when basically the whole midfield was injured, and the last-gasp prelim victory over the Kangaroos.
While I do follow the Tigers these days, I still follow the Cats closely. It’s a good time to have a connection to both clubs at the moment.
You live in Geelong and played for the club, do you still have an affinity with the Cats?
Definitely. While I lean towards the Tigers, I still follow the Cats closely. I can’t help but follow the Cats really. (Wife) Tash’s mum, brother and sister are mad Cats supporters and so is my sister Narelle, most of (sons) Liam and Caden’s friends follow the Cats and basically all of my good mates follow the Cats.
I’m so appreciative of the fact that the Geelong footy club essentially changed the course of my life by taking a punt on me. I absolutely loved my early years there.
I was 17 when I moved from Traralgon to Geelong. I had to complete Year 12 at Belmont High School in my first season, and many of my close friends today, guys like Grant Burrows and Jon McClure, were people I met way back then in 1994.
And I also first met Tash at Belmont High too.
I really respect what the club has done over the past 15 years or so with regard to being a values-based organisation under Brian
Cook’s leadership, while remaining a force in the competition.
Your family is split. Your eldest son Liam is a Tiger and you lean towards the Tigers, but your wife Tash and younger son Caden are Cats fans. What will the mood be like at your place on Saturday night?
Good question. After the Tigers won the 2017 qualifying final, I remember Liam standing up at the final siren to sing the song. And then I looked over at Caden and saw tears rolling down his face. It broke my heart.
So I must admit this game is tricky as a parent. Tash and I are trying to encourage both our boys to be happy for one another if the result doesn’t quite go their way, but I can’t see that happening.
Now for the big game, talk me through your predictions. What will be the key battles?
The way the Cats have won their last two finals games has a similar feel to how
Richmond went about their finals in 2017 — they’re playing awesome footy at exactly the right time and are on a bit of a roll at the Gabba, so they will be hard to stop.
The intensity is just going to be ridiculous, and I feel like the result of the game will come down to whether the Cats can cope with
Richmond’s ferocity for long enough.
If the Cats take their chances early, there is a possibility they might run away with it in the end, and the Tigers could run out of steam after a long season — just like what happened to Collingwood a couple of weeks ago.
But I can’t see it being a blowout like last year's grand final
The key battle will be Rhys Stanley v Toby Nankervis. Centre clearances at the
Gabba are crucial and the Cats scored heavily from them against Brisbane.
Who are you tipping to win, and by what margin?
Cats by 15 points.
And I’ll get you to give me your Norm Smith Medal prediction, and who you’re backing for the first goal … Norm Smith — Tom Stewart, South Barwon legend. First goal — Jack Riewoldt.