THE END OF A CATS ERA

GEELONG’s preliminary final loss to Melbourne on Friday night not only brought forward the end of the Cats’ season, but also the end of one of the most successful administrative eras in modern sport.

The conclusion of the playing season puts a full stop on the 23-year tenure of Cats chief executive Brian Cook, the man lauded as a key figure in overhauling the club’s culture and the backbone of Geelong’s tremendous era of both on-field and off-field dominance.

That Cook is finishing up in the Cats’ top job is no surprise – it has long been known that the 2021 season would be his last as chief executive.

The Cats have already announced former player, administrator and, more recently, AFL general manager of football operations Steven Hocking as his successor. What has taken many by surprise in recent weeks has been Cook’s name being linked to a senior role at Carlton.

The shock is not only because Cook’s language until this point has been all about stepping back from the pressure and commitment of daily football club operations, but also because – after a couple of decades – Cook feels like a fixture of the Geelong community. His ongoing presence at local events, as well as his tenure at the Cats and role as chair of the Barwon Health board, has cemented him as one of our own.

It says much about Cook’s impact that his loss to the Cats will be tough enough.

But the prospect of him lending his prowess to an opposing team will be very tough for many locals to swallow.