Billy appeals for all to back Little Master
GEELONG champion Billy Brownless has called on neutral footy fans to get on the Cats train for the grand final.
The former Cats forward said the team was dotted with “unbelievable” reasons why his old side should hoist the premiership cup on Saturday night.
A feel-good story Brownless said deserved recognition was the rebirth of Lachie Henderson, who was delisted last year then given a footy lifeline when put on Geelong’s rookie list.
“He thought last summer that … he won’t play again,” Brownless said.
“Then all of a sudden he’s s rookie-listed and, bang, he’s going to be playing in a grand final.”
Henderson has been part t of a watertight Cats’ backline e that Brownless said had been one of the reasons for the team’s success.
He said neutral fans could also get behind father-son selections such as Jed Bews and Sam Simpson.
“Sam Simpson played a couple of games, did his hammy, played some games, then re-did his hammy and people thought he was virtually done and dusted,” he said. “And all of a sudden he’s playing in a grand final.”
Brownless said a group of players from the Cats squad who had not regularly been picked in the senior team, known as the “bankers” — including his son Oscar — deserved reward for the effort they had put in during intraclub games.
“(Oscar) reckons the bankers have won a few games (against the AFL side),” he said.
The effort of the “bankers” was recognised by skipper Joel Selwood after the Cats’ preliminary final win.
Brownless said Selwood deserved to be captain of a premiership side and Patrick Dangerfield deserved to win his first senior flag. But the No 1 reason neutrals should get on the Cats was the “Little Master”.
“Everyone loves Gary Ablett Jr and it’s his last game. There’s the No 1 reason,” Brownless said.
“Harry Taylor could be the same — (support) both of them for what they have done for the city of Geelong.”
Brownless will be at his booked-out Cremorne Hotel in Newtown on Saturday night.
“If the Cats win, who knows what will happen,” he said.