By Mandy Oakham
Geelong football fans are manning up to prove they will bleed blue and white for their beloved cats.
Supporters are angry with a claim from the AFL Fans Association (AFLFA) that all finals should be played at venues that are large enough to cater for all fans who want to attend.
The AFLFA believes that if Geelong plays Richmond, the game must be held at the MCG.
“It is imperative that as many fans as possible get to see their teams play in the finals,” association president Gerry Eeman said.
Cat Man, aka Troy West, was leading the charge for a home final.
“It is our bloody home ground, it is our bloody fans and where is the incentive to achieve second on the ladder if we can’t get a home ground final,” Cat Man hissed.
“If we happen to win on Saturday then whoever we are playing will just have to suck it up like Richmond did.
“Do they make Adelaide come over and play at the MCG? What about the teams in the West do we make them come over and play at the MCG?”
The president of the Geelong Football Club cheer squad John Van Lith told the Indy that fans were 100 per cent behind their club and their players in their calls for the right to a home ground final.
Other fans are not so sure about a home final.
Fan Stephanie King posted on the Indy Facebook page: “I’m a Geelong fan, but for both teams fans it should be at the MCG.”
Another supporter Sarah Rakusz posted: “Of course it should be at the MCG – the crowd will be electric.”
Cats coach Chris Scott has said his club will be OK with playing a home final at the MCG as long as the AFL concedes it “is putting cash ahead of fairness and integrity”.
Club president Colin Carter has slammed the AFL’s efforts to take home games away from the Cats.
“We think (come finals) the AFL is in a position where there are, basically, two rules – one set of rules that apply to some teams in the competition and another set of rules that apply to others.”
Hundreds of Geelong fans have responded to a local online campaign to “bring Gazza back home” by leaving their headlights on all day this Saturday as a show of support for the potential return of Ablett to the club in 2018.
Number one Cat fan Troy West has joined the campaign which has been launched by Drysdale shop Surf Junction.
Owner of the shop Naomi Pattern, who credits her partner Gavin with the idea for the head lights campaign, is a passionate Cats supporter.
Cat Man said he, like many Geelong fans, was torn as to whether Gaz should return home.
“Of course I am like all the other romantics who would love to see Gazza back home and lining up with Dangerfield and Selwood and then there is the other side of the story like is he too old, is he too injured?”
