FRIDAY PUB CHAT Rivalry ramps up excitement

DAMO: G’day Billy. You’d know all about it — how big is the Geelong v Hawthorn rivalry?

BILLY: It’s been an unbelievable rivalry going back to our good friend, Jeff Kennett. They actually played in ’63. It started back then when the Cats were led by the great Bobby Davis and Freddy Wooller. It went quiet there for a while and then Jeff Kennett fired it up again with the “Kennett Curse”, which ‘Chappy’ and Bartel and Stevie J blew to the

scheissen. The Hawks have got it back on their terms a bit of late, but it doesn’t matter where the sides line up on the ladder, it’s always a bloody close game.

DAMO: Is it the biggest rivalry of the past decade do you think?

BILLY: Yeah, I reckon it is. We probably don’t realise how big the showdowns and derbies are, but certainly this is right up there. Some of the games that have been produced over the last 10 or 15 years have been unbelievable. I still remember the boys getting it to ‘Tomahawk’ with 10 seconds to go, it was unbelievable their ball

movement through the middle and then ‘Hawk’ kicking that goal after the siren (2012).

DAMO: Both sides were very good at moving the ball from one end to the other when they were down by a kick. The Hawks almost pulled it off in 2016 when I reckon it took them 10 seconds to go end to end and find Isaac Smith for a kick after the siren. He missed the goal but they gave themselves a shot.

BILLY: That’s exactly right, it’s never over until it’s over.

DAMO: I reckon the Hawks would have done some practise on their close finishes after that loss to St Kilda, too.

BILLY: They’ll be disappointed and we all know ‘Clarko’, they’ll just get another soldier up. We know they’ve got some injuries, so we’ve just got to beware and don’t take them too easy. They’ll be snarly and looking for a win.

DAMO: Their ex-Geelong Falcons skipper, James Worpel, has been pretty good; he softens the void of Tom Mitchell, who had 32 touches last time the two sides met.

BILLY: He’s going all right the ‘Worpedo’, he’s doing very well actually. At the Falcons he was just a bull. We’re loving the Geelong Falcons at the minute with Sam Walsh and the ‘Worpedo’ and Gryan Miers. We better give the Falcons a pump up, Mick Turner will like that.

DAMO: Do you reckon the Cats have done much different since the loss to GWS?

BILLY: Nah, the Giants are a very good side. I think everyone realises that and they’re going to beat a lot of sides this year. It’s disappointing to lose at home but they’re a really good side. I don’t think there will be a lot of changes to be made, keep going with what you’ve got.

DAMO: So you’ll be tipping the Cats?

BILLY: Cats win on Easter Monday. Plenty of eggs, we have a nice win and everyone’s happy.

DAMO: Except Jeff!