City on the edge

Andrew Mathieson
By Andrew Mathieson
IT IS the calm before the storm.
Geelong, the city, the football club and supporters, are on the edge today – and with good reason.
Tonight the Cats will endeavour to qualify for their first AFL grand final in 12 years.
The loss that fateful day to Carlton was the club’s fourth in seven seasons following defeats in the 1989, 1992 and 1994 grand finals.
Geelong has also reached the preliminary finals just once since a heartbreaking nine-point loss to Brisbane in 2004.
Cats fans are expected to arrive in their droves tonight at the MCG after their team’s remarkable 106-point win over the Kangaroos.
The preliminary final meeting with Collingwood – and the league’s most passionate fans – is expected to break a ground record since the MCG was reconfigured following its latest redevelopment.
Last year’s grand final between interstate raiders, West Coast and Sydney, drew a crowd of 97,431.
The AFL announced this week that tonight’s match would be televised live free-to-air after all tickets sold out in a rush.
The final 15,000 tickets were sold in a little more than 90 minutes on Wednesday morning.
V/Line has made available more than 4500 seats on its trains heading to Southern Cross Station for tonight’s match.
Three trains from Geelong have been added to tonight’s schedule and a further three will have their capacities boosted.
Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood said the city was awaiting with baited breath the result of tonight’s do-or-die clash. He said plans were in place for a community live site at Skilled Stadium next week.
“We think that will bring a lot of people out to enjoy and watch the game and if they’re successful in the grand final then I think the event might go through to Christmas,” he said.
However, the City would keep the champagne on ice next week should Geelong win its way through to the grand final, Cr Harwood said.
He was not surprised the town had been painted blue and white for the finals campaign.
“They’ve always been an exciting team to watch and follow playing in a few grand finals, albeit they didn’t win.”