FANS’ CHANCE TO FAREWELL CHAMPS
Fans urged to farewell star duo
Cats great Gary Ablett and son Levi — along with champion defender Harry Taylor and his children — will take a lap of honour at the Cattery this weekend. Fans are urged to come out in force on Sunday to thank the retired premiership heroes for their remarkable careers.
GEELONG chief executive Brian Cook has urged supporters to turn up in big numbers and show their support against North Melbourne as footy returns to GMHBA Stadium on Sunday night.
It comes as the Cats revealed club greats Gary Ablett Jr and Harry Taylor (pictured) would make an appearance before the game to do a lap of honour with their children — James, Isabel and Abbie Taylor and Levi Ablett.
The 4.40pm bounce is a far from ideal timeslot and the last time Geelong played the Kangaroos — a Saturday night in August 2019 — only 21,664 people attended.
But Cook said he was hopeful fans would turn out to pay tribute to two of the best players the club had produced.
“Gary and Harry are two of the most iconic players in our club’s history, and it is fitting that they will be able to be recognised by our members and supporters on Sunday,” Cook said.
“Their contribution was critical during one of the greatest periods that we have experienced. They are wonderful players and people and they remained true to the values of the club over a long period.
“We are incredibly proud of them and encourage as many supporters as possible to get to GMHBA Stadium on Sunday to give them a huge ovation as they have their final lap of their football home.”
The duo will be in separate cars.
It will be a rare public outing for Ablett and his son, who captured the hearts of many Australians last year after his parents revealed he had been diagnosed with a rare degenerative illness amid Geelong and other clubs being asked to relocate to hubs to keep the AFL season alive.
Ablett’s wife, Jordan, opened up recently about Levi’s condition, revealing it carries with it a short life expectancy.
Speaking candidly on The Significant Others podcast, Jordan Ablett detailed the devastation she and her husband felt after being told the condition was “life-threatening”.
“I just remember sitting with Gaz in that meeting and when they said it I just remember absolutely breaking down,” she said.
“It’s one thing to receive a diagnosis which just confirms that Levi has a rare and degenerative disease, however it’s another thing to understand that it is life threatening and that’s like a whole other ball game and a whole other situation in itself because that stuff you just can’t prepare for.
“There is a very short life expectancy, which is why I constantly say to people when they ask about Levi that we are literally just taking it day by day because we have no idea what the future holds.”
The Cats have advised fans to be seated by 4pm, 40 minutes before the first bounce, in order to be able to pay tribute.