Mother-in-law party behind rift rumours

Andrew Mathieson
by andrew mathieson
Cats legend Garry Hocking has revealed a clash of dates rather than a supposed rift with his former club was behind speculation he would snub Geelong’s 150th anniversary celebration.
Hocking said public “criticisms” forced him to shift a surprise 60th birthday party tomorrow night for his mother-in-law so he could attend this weekend’s Cats black tie dinner.
Hocking refused for months to explain why he had initially declined the club’s invitation.
“I said we’re not going because we were trying to keep it (the birthday party) a secret,” Hocking told the Independent.
“With all the undue criticism I was getting for not going, I had to come clean to my mother-in-law and we celebrated last week so it would enable us to go this week.”
Hocking said he had initially decided to put family first for wife Mel and “all the effort she has put in”.
The team of the century member, who once changed his name to Whiskas to earn sponsorship cash for the Cats, denied he ever had a rift with the club.
“I want to let people know that of course I love the football club,” he said.
“It has given me an opportunity to get on and learn a lot of things in life. I’ve never forgotten where I’ve came from.”
More than 200 past players and coaches, including 20 club captains and 46 premiership players with 16,411 games, 33 best-and-fairest awards, four Brownlow and two Coleman medals between them are confirmed, along with 1100 guests.
However, former Cats stars Gary Ablett Snr, Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer, Steven King and Michael Turner have announced they will not attend.
Hocking said life was no longer “always about the football club” for some former players, such as Michael Turner.
“He doesn’t have a rift with anyone. He just feels like he has moved on from that phase – some people are like that,” he said.