A FITTING FAREWELL

CATS fans will get the chance to farewell two of the club’s favourite sons at this Sunday’s Kardinia Park clash against North Melbourne. One of the many downsides of last year’s COVID-interrupted AFL season was that one of the club’s greatest ever players, Gary Ablett Jr, played his 350th game in front of empty stands and ended his career before an interstate crowd.

The club’s decision to host both Ablett and teammate Harry Taylor before Sunday’s match will provide supporters with the opportunity to thank two of the club’s greats for their years of service.

Both the club and players know the importance of the fans. Giving them the chance to say goodbye to their heroes in person is an important ritual for the players and supporters alike.

This fan investment also explains the mounting frustration from some supporters around the ticketing issues that continue to see club members with allocated seats placed around the ground in a seemingly arbitrary fashion from week to week — despite home crowds yet to reach the currently approved 75 per cent capacity limit.

It isn’t that fans don’t understand the COVID complexities — many have pointed to the fact that they all but donated last season’s membership without attending a match — but the combination of Ticketmaster allocating seating and the club’s handling of membership inquiries has left some fans feeling that they are not being heard.

We know Geelong is a club that prides itself on its fan engagement and this Sunday’s farewell to Ablett and Taylor is one such example. Hopefully enough fans will be there to participate.