The history of the Geelong Football Club, began in 1859 in the city of Geelong, Australia, is significant as the club is the second oldest AFL club, is believed to be the fourth oldest football club in Australia and one of the oldest in the world and one of the most successful. 2023 Geelong Football Club season - Wikipedia [31] In the absence of finals appearances at AFL-level, the club's reserves team won its first VFL premiership in 2002. [97]. It is sung to the tune of "Toreador" from Carmen. Clarence Football Club - Pat Hartnett In 1941, the club was forced to relocate from its Corio Oval base due to the oval being required for military training during World War II. The design is said to represent the white seagulls and blue water of Corio Bay. The club fell behind the progressive clubs of the 1970s, notably Carlton, Richmond, Hawthorn and North Melbourne. After failing to make the finals in 1982, the club board sacked Goggin as coach and appointed former Richmond premiership coach Tom Hafey in his place. Coach Mark Thompson was widely perceived to be at risk. After qualifying for the 2021 VFLW Grand Final, the match was postponed and later cancelled due to the. An iconic figure in the Geelong region, Costa has long been a community leader. All the latest news, video, results and information . In 1993 the Geelong once again underachieved as Malcolm Blight experimented with more defensive tactics. Upon the 80th anniversary of the Past Players and Officials Club, the board undertook to re-create the history of the club, and this history was documented in the book After The Game (80 years 1933 to 2013). Before the 1962 season, Davis helped Geelong recruit ruckman Graham "Polly" Farmer from East Perth to partner Billy Goggin and Alistair Lord in the midfield. II. Used for most of the club's home matches in the AFL all home matches in other competitions. Geelong pays tribute to 1952 premiership star Geoff Williams "Frank took on one of the toughest roles in football as our president at a time when the very future of the Geelong Football Club was in the balance. Blight agreed and Geelong began to play like champions again. Key points: Cook replaces Cain Liddle, who left the position of chief executive last week The appointment will fuel speculation Alastair Clarkson may join the Blues as senior coach in the future According to the president of Geelong's past . He played on, although he was clearly dealing with pain all night, and left the field beside a guard of honour from both sides while carrying son Levi. "They include having co-founded and run for 15 years Geelong's original YMCA little league football competition, working on the YMCA board for a decade including two years as president . Colbert then kicked long, where ruckman John Barnes dropped the mark, allowing Leigh Tudor, a former North Melbourne player to swoop, and kick the ball over Martyn's head to land in the hand of Gary Ablett. Responding to member anger, the Board ordered a comprehensive review of all aspects of the administration of the club and of the club's personnel. It was later revealed that after the 2008 grand final, Paul Chapman initiated a pact between other Geelong players to never lose to Hawthorn again. However, Geelong scored a behind to level the scores. Jul 4, 2021, 6:31pm The Geelong Football Club is pleased to announce that Steve Hocking has been appointed as the club's new Chief Executive. In 1999 the club won five games straight to open the season. Unfortunately, identically to 1995, Geelong capitulated in the final, allowing Carlton another piece of silverware. Hocking will commence in the role at the completion of the 2021 season. [citation needed], Across the next three seasons Geelong experienced a lean period where finals were not realised for three years from 2001 to 2003 finishing twelfth, ninth and twelfth respectively. However, in the final round of the home and away season Essendon's champion full forward, John Coleman retaliated against Carlton full back, Harry Caspar and was reported and later suspended for four weeks. The idea of the GFCPPA originated after a match between past and present players of the Geelong Football Club on 12 August 1933 1. [citation needed], It appeared Geelong would repeat the outcome of the previous season after five rounds of the 2007 season, where Geelong was positioned tenth on the ladder with two wins and three losses, with the latest loss being against the Kangaroos at Skilled Stadium. Geelong would later deny Collingwood three successive premierships in 1937, winning a famous grand final by 32 points. Unlike these clubs, Geelong recruited poorly and/or could not afford to recruit quality footballers. [65], Geelong again participated in the finals series across the next two seasons, reaching the preliminary finals in 2013 and the semi-finals in 2014. A run of losses prompted a local cartoonist to suggest that the club needed a black cat to bring it good luck. However, in the second half West Coast's Peter Matera ran riot, booting five goals and earning himself the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground. The club qualified for the AFLW finals series for the first time since Geelong's inaugural season in the competition in 2019. Early in the season the clubs played a draw. The Board opted for stability over the uncertainty of radical personnel change. Any player who played in the first or second eighteen could join, and the committee could appoint life members. In 1949, the club's former premiership captain Reg Hickey was appointed as coach for the third time. The old free-standing Rooms made way for the larger new stand, which includes a permanent home for the Past Players and a dedicated memorabilia display area. However, the Cats would not add to their trophy cabinet after losing to Richmond by 31 points in the decider, despite leading by 15 points at half time. The resultant loss caused the cats to exit by losing both finals. 2009. However, in 1881 the club was evicted from the ground by the private owner who ploughed up the paddock because the club had neglected to pay its rent. The match was hard to tip, as many saw Geelong a definite chance given that the two sides met once during the year, which saw Carlton win by three points. Despite making multiple finals appearances in his first two seasons (including winning the minor premiership in 1980), the club struggled to replicate their home and away season success during the finals. The first meeting of the past players was held a week later on 17 August 1933, where a motion was moved for a Past Players Association to be formed. [64] In the reserves however, Geelong won its third VFL premiership, defeating Port Melbourne by 33 points in the 2012 VFL Grand Final. [5][10], Many of the club's official records before 1920 have disappeared. The Newman Club was founded in 1980 to support Australian Rules Football at Geelong Grammar School. Picture: Peter Ristevski The husband of Bernadette and father of two is a Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and a Chartered Accountant, and last October he became a grandfather to a baby boy. [62], Geelong were unsuccessful in defending their premiership in 2012, finishing the regular season in sixth position and subsequently losing its elimination final against Fremantle at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 1970 Clarence FC - 50 year anniversary stubby holders available. The song currently used by the club was recorded by the Fable Singers in April 1972. Bob Davis acknowledges the possibility that had Coleman played, Essendon may well have won, given that Geelong had no true match for him, as Coleman was simply too skilled. Geelong finished the regular season in first position on the ladder, earning the club a second-consecutive McClelland Trophy, its ninth overall. The author, Susan Kruss, has devoted a significant amount of time in pursuit of an accurate appraisal of events over the last 80 years of existence of the GPPOC. Gary Ablett topped the goalkicking for the year easily, kicking 129 goals (including the finals) and winning his second consecutive John Coleman Medal. Thompson's first season as senior coach in 2000 was somewhat successful; Geelong finished the regular season in fifth position and qualified for the finals series for the first time since 1997, losing to Hawthorn in an elimination final. The Cats would meet eventual premier, North Melbourne in the first week of the finals, which saw North win by over 10 goals. Carlton recruits former Geelong chief executive Brian Cook as its - ABC McGREGOR, Alexander Hugh (1908-1997) - Heritage Guide to The Geelong 2. [96], The Cats finished fourth on the ladder at the end of the COVID effected 2020 regular season and, despite losing to Port Adelaide by 16 points in the qualifying final, they would finally end their losing run in preliminary finals and book their first grand final place in nine years after defeating Collingwood and Brisbane by 68 and 40 points in the semi final and prelim respectively. In 1925, Geelong won their first flag over Collingwood. In 2008, Collingwood inflicted Geelong's only home-and-away loss, by a massive 86 points, but the teams did not meet in the finals. Historian Graeme Atkinson considers it likely that Geelong's rules were drawn up prior to the establishment of both Geelong and Melbourne Football Club's and that club's rules being drafted on 17 May 1859. 1995 saw the club improve. [42] In September 2017, the club was announced as one of two clubs, along with North Melbourne, to receive a license to join the competition in 2019. In 1997 Geelong faced a season with no dependence on ageing superstars, Paul Couch and Gary Ablett. Any player catching the ball directly from the foot may call 'mark'. [40] Sydney would subsequently win the 2005 AFL Grand Final. Jack represents over 25 athletes across a range of different sports, including some of the country's biggest names such as Emma McKeon, Mack Horton, Cate & Bronte Campbell, Scott McLaughlin, Liz Watson and Sharni Layton. [89][90], The 2019 season saw Geelong finish on top of the AFL ladder for the first time since 2008. In 2019, the team captaincy rotated through the following 5 players: Kate Darby, Danielle Higgins, Jordan Ivey, Maddy Keryk, Amy McDonald. [29] Following the dissolution of the AFL reserves competition in 1999, Geelong began fielding a reserves team in the Victorian Football League (VFL)[a] from 2000. Geelong performed poorly early on in the 1923 season. Frank Costa was president of the Geelong Football Club for more than a decade. However, the Cats would not lose another game for the entire season, including a 6-point qualifying win over Collingwood, a 71-point preliminary final domination of the Brisbane Lions and a grand final triumph over Sydney to notch the Cats' 10th premiership and Chris Scott's 2nd. Also in 1993, Blight decided to play Gary Ablett at Full Forward permanently. Following the conclusion of the 1959 season, Hickey retired as coach and was succeeded by Bob Davis, a dual premiership player from the club's successful 1951 and 1952 period. In 2017, following the inaugural AFL Women's (AFLW) season, Geelong was among eight clubs that applied for licenses to enter the competition from 2019 onwards. [4], Records of football matches in Geelong date to 1858. However, the review accepted that Thompson should continue as coach. North Melbourne started well, but Geelong dominated the second and third quarters to lead by six goals in the third quarter. Paul Couch also won the Brownlow Medal to become the club's fourth Brownlow Medalist and first in twenty-seven years. Geelong had a shaky start to their 2022 campaign, beginning the year with five wins and four losses. Melbourne members familiar with the rugby rules were regularly flaunting their own rules of not running with the ball (particularly H. C. A. Harrison but also Tom Wills) carrying it great distances while not being penalised by the umpires. The match was notable with Geelong successfully completing a comeback from a 28-point deficit early in the final quarter to record a victory when an after-the-siren kick Jimmy Bartel scored a point and resulted in a win. [33] Post season, Geelong signed Nathan Ablett under the fatherson rule,[34] just as the club had done with older brother Gary in 2001. The team then won its first two matches of the finals series to qualify for the 2011 AFL Grand Final against reigning premier Collingwood, where Geelong proceeded to win the match by 38 points to claim its third premiership in the space of five seasons, and the club's ninth VFL/AFL premiership overall. Bob's fascination with and commitment to Australian football spans over six decades. Ablett's most notable performances of this year included 11 goals against Melbourne, 14 against Essendon and 10 against the Adelaide Crows all in losing sides. For many footballers who were seldom more than semi-professional sportsmen, match payments supplemented Great Depression-hit wages. Steve Johnson was awarded the Norm Smith Medal after being judged the best player in the match, providing Geelong with just their second Norm Smith Medallist. [93] After losing the first qualifying final to Collingwood by 10 points,[94] they bounced back to eliminate reigning premiers West Coast by 20 points in the first semi-final. In 1956, Geelong recruited Billy Goggin, Geelong's greatest rover, who also coached Geelong in the 1980s. Geelong failed in 1990 to reproduce the exciting brand of attacking football of 1989. Contact: Damien on 0418 171 955 or damien.dillon@gcc.tas.gov.au. Geelong won a memorable preliminary final by five points on their way to their first flag in 44 years. Consistent with the close finish of 1989, Hawthorn won the match by two points. He would kick his 1000th career goal against Fremantle. The Best and Fairest was won by Paul Couch, who narrowly missed out on winning his second Brownlow Medal. [45] Chapman's criticisms, which followed a similar assessment from coach Mark Thompson, led to a group discussion involving all of the club's playing and coaching staff, and produced frank assessments of both individuals and the club in general. Tom Wills, one of the founders of Australian football, played exclusively for Geelong from 1865 until his retirement from football in 1874. Despite dominating in the VFA, Geelong found the premiership harder to win in the VFL. Geelong then proceeded to win its qualifying and preliminary finals in succession, earning a place in the 2008 AFL Grand Final against Hawthorn and the chance for a second-consecutive premiership. Against the Brisbane Bears at Carrara the club kicked a VFL/AFL record score of 37 goals 17 behinds (239 points). The appointment follows a thorough recruitment process led by Egon Zehnder. [69], During 2015, the round fourteen match between Adelaide and Geelong was cancelled, and declared a draw, following the death of Adelaide coach Phil Walsh. [citation needed], Geelong proceeded to defeat the Kangaroos and Collingwood in their qualifying and preliminary finals respectively, the latter being a close game with Collingwood threatening victory late in the match. Our Past: Heritage Geelong Cats Foundation [45] This session proved to be a catalyst for the club to begin a transformation of the club's culture, and resulted in a 157-point defeat of Richmond, with Geelong's score of 222 points the club's third-highest overall. (past and present) of the Club by: (i) grants of money, insurance or other aid to them and their . The stadium is currently undergoing construction, which has reduced the stadium's capacity to around 26,000. In the 1860s, Geelong participated in a series of Challenge Cup competitions, and was a foundation member of both the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1877 and the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1897, now the national AFL. $16 each or 2 any 2 for $30. History Board & Administration Careers . The move followed the redevelopment of the old Doug Wade stand. During this era the "Coulter Law" discouraged club administrators from poaching players from each other's clubs. VII. The two sides played against each other in 6 finals between 1951 and 1955, including the 1952 Grand Final when Geelong easily beat Collingwood by 46 points. geelong football club past presidents - solutionsplusonline.com [1] VI. Geelong also field teams in other competitions; a reserves men's team in the Victorian Football League (VFL), a senior women's team in the AFL Women's (AFLW) and a reserves women's team in the VFL Women's (VFLW) competitions. In 1863, Geelong travelled to Melbourne to contest the Caledonian Challenge Cup. PDF Constitution of Geelong Football Club Limited Part One - Afl The latter features an MCG-sized oval and is used often by the club in the pre-season, when Kardinia Park is being used for other events. Thank You Colin - Geelong Football Club ^ Denotes the ladder was split into two conferences. During his time however, Hafey helped recruit several players to the club, including Gary Ablett, Paul Couch, and Greg Williams. In 1884, the club merged with the Geelong Cricket Club to form the Geelong Cricket and Football Club. This late season match in the VFA between two previously undefeated teams, Geelong and South Melbourne, stimulated unprecedented public interest. Geelong went on to play for most of its existence in the premier competitions, the first competition, the Caledonian Society Cup, a foundation club of both the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1877 and the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1897. [57], After finishing tenth on the ladder in 2015, Geelong failed to qualify for . [84] During the season, Corey Enright achieved the club's all-time games record with his tally of 326 games in round nineteen; Jimmy Bartel also celebrated his 300th game milestone in the same round. Despite missing the finals during this first season back with the club, Hickey led Geelong to two consecutive premierships in 1951 and 1952to date, the only back-to-back premierships in the club's history. In the lead-up to the club's Round 9 clash against favourites Carlton, the Herald Sun published a depiction of the match by cartoonist Sam Wells, featuring a black cat wandering onto the field to give Geelong good luck. the sole Judges of infringements. It adopted the Laws of Australian Football in the early 1860s after a series of compromises with the Melbourne Football Club. Carter has been a key driver within the football industry over the past 35 years. They finally met again in a Grand Final in 2011, which Geelong won by 38 points; Geelong inflicted Collingwood's only three losses for the 2011 season. John and Jill Holt celebrated 65 years of marriage in 2018 . Geelong jumped the Swans early on, clinching a 6.5 (41) to 1.0 (6) quarter time lead which enabled them to cruise to an 81-point victory. In 1990, the league was expanded to a national level and became known as the Australian Football League (AFL). Club Presidents [ edit] Adelaide [ edit] Bob Hammond (1991-2000) [11] Bob Campbell (2001-2003) Bill Sanders (2004-2008) Rob Chapman (2009-2020) John Olsen (2021-present) Brisbane Bears/Lions [ edit] Paul Cronin (1987-1990) [12] Noel Gordon (1990-1999) Alan Piper (1999-2000) Graeme Downie (2000-2006) Tony Kelly (2006-2010) Angus Johnson (2010-2013) Tallies of 10 goal against North Melbourne, and 12 against his favourite victim, Richmond, in winning sides. This concession allowed sons of ex-players to nominate for their fathers' clubs, thus exempting them from being chosen by any other club in the national draft. Introducing the current committee of the Geelong Past Players & Officials Club for 2019: President Ray Card Vice President Mark Yeates Secretary Marty Christensen Treasurer Nick Walsh General Committee Brian Chirgwin Wayne Hovey Neville Bruns History Former president of the Geelong Football Club, businessman and philanthropist Frank Costa has died at the age of 83. Tenure Geelong Football Club Limited Director for nine years, and President for seven years Experience Colin joined the Board of Directors in July 2008 after previously serving from 1987 until 1993. The captains on each side shall toss for choice of goal the side losing the toss has the kick off from the centre point between the goals Mark Thompson was appointed coach. [41], After winning the 2006 pre-season competition,[42] Geelong opened the regular season with two wins before losing seven of its next eight games. Former Geelong player Greg Williams, now a superstar at Carlton, was named best on ground with his five goals. A dead hawk joined two magpies and a toy bomber under the Kardinia Park turf.[23]. Geelong - News, Fixtures, Scores & Results - geelongcats.com.au [44] Responding to member anger, the Board ordered a comprehensive review of all aspects of the administration of the club and of the club's personnel. The club had also won the 2007 VFL premiership against Coburg the weekend before. Werribee Football Club - Board The principal purposes of the Club include: . The Board opted for stability over the uncertainty of radical personnel change. IV. The match proved a nailbiter, with an after-the-siren kick and goal by Billy Brownless giving the club a five-point win. The win was Geelong's first premiership since 1963, and broke the club's 44-season premiership drought. [11], Geelong's traditional navy blue and white hooped guernsey has been worn since the club's inception in the mid-1800s.