10 moments that shaped Geelong Football Club

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I'd say a key moment that shaped the Geelng Football Club was adding an 'o' at some point so we became the 'Geelong' Football Club;)
What on earth are you talking about
 

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Jun 11, 2007
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Yeah, "now".....
;)

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Current top 10 moments thus far:

1. The decision by Charles Brownlow and Geelong FC in the early 1890's to sow the seeds for a breakaway competition from the VFA.
2. Brian Cook - at a time when Geelong was insolvent and rapidly becoming irrelevant along comes the greatest administrator the club has had since.....Charles Brownlow. Today GFC is spoken by many as a modern powerhouse and destination club.
3. The signing of Gary Ablett Senior for 1984 season. Not sure if Bill McMaster or Billy Goggin can take the credit. It turned out that be a stroke of genius. While Senior never played in a Geelong premiership his sons did, and Junior would never have ended up at Geelong if Senior had taken a different path.
4. The 2006 review. While Bomber didn't like the process, it's hard to argue with the results.
5. Bobby Davis luring Polly Farmer into moving east and playing for Geelong in the 60's. Polly had an instant impact at Geelong, helping the Cats win the 1963 premiership, captaining the club, winning 2 B&F's, and securing the No.1 ruck position in Geelong's Team of the Century. He was arguably the highest profile interstate recruit in the 1960's.
6. Noel Newman (father of Sam Newman) and Alec Popescu paying the clubs bills in the 70's when the club was cash strapped, including paying the players.
The club may not still be here without those two.
7. The signing of Malcolm Blight as coach in 1989; really from that year onwards Geelong have been a consistently strong and successful club. As Spazz Cat said, "When we made the GF (in 1989) there was this magical excitement around town and at school. Started a great era for the club.
8. The 1999 / 2000 - so much happened. Leigh Colbert deserts Geelong. Gary Ayres quits as coach. Rookie coach, Bomber Thompson, is appointed to replace Ayres.
9. The 2006 Draft - Hawks take Mitch Thorp, leaving us with the kid from the Bendigo Pioneers, who goes on to win the Rising Star .
10 The leadership group coming together after Round 5 2007 which was against North to address the loss and where to from here....It was a massive turning point. Geleong went on unbeaten until the Port Adelaide game and also won the premiership
 
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Id say signing Malcolm Blight as coach in 1989 ( and there are posters on this board who bag him ) but really from that year onwards Geelong have been a consistently strong and successful club

Before his arrival - Geelong were a rabble - a joke - use to consistently tease the supporters - thats all the Cats use to do - the 80s - a couple of strong years in 80/81 - then back to an an inconsistent side - out of the finals for 7 years - plenty of infighting off the field - Presidents being sacked halfway through the year

The 70s they were forgettable - a couple of finals appearances - plenty of " shock" losses

So in the 70s and 80s apart from a few good years here there and along the line - their was 20 years of s**t

1989 was the turning point - and with a bit of luck at the right time - where the cards didnt fall Geelongs way - then the Cats could have 5-6 flags since that point which would be an exceptional effort .
Huh? Didn't we nearly go broke in 1999, we were technically bankrupt and operating whilst insolvent
 

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Sep 15, 2007
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Not agreeing to pay Greg Williams a measly 5000 dollars extra despite being offered 50,000 dollars extra by the swans. Probably cost us atleast a couple of flags.

Malcolm blight deciding to go all defensive at the start of 1993.

2006 club review. Dont know why we haven't done another since.

Gary ablett signing.

Scarlett toe poke

Lindner refusing to boot the ball long in the 89 grand final after we started to get our typical momentum game going. Instead turned it over with a dinky play and hawthorn ran down and booted a goal. Momentum killed.
 
Sep 15, 2007
50,371
46,606
Where i need to be
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Geelong
Id say signing Malcolm Blight as coach in 1989 ( and there are posters on this board who bag him ) but really from that year onwards Geelong have been a consistently strong and successful club

Before his arrival - Geelong were a rabble - a joke - use to consistently tease the supporters - thats all the Cats use to do - the 80s - a couple of strong years in 80/81 - then back to an an inconsistent side - out of the finals for 7 years - plenty of infighting off the field - Presidents being sacked halfway through the year

The 70s they were forgettable - a couple of finals appearances - plenty of " shock" losses

So in the 70s and 80s apart from a few good years here there and along the line - their was 20 years of s**t

1989 was the turning point - and with a bit of luck at the right time - where the cards didnt fall Geelongs way - then the Cats could have 5-6 flags since that point which would be an exceptional effort .
the irony being is that our team of the century is full of players from the 70s and early 80s dark years. Go figure.
 

JD Tomahawk

Cancelled
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Feb 17, 2015
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Weren't we going to merge with the bulldogs at one point in late 90s early naughties? I remember hearing it at school in 2001. I've never heard another word about it. If true, it'd be good to hear from someone in the know and what they remember.
 

Spazz Cat

Brownlow Medallist
Jun 10, 2013
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Not agreeing to pay Greg Williams a measly 5000 dollars extra despite being offered 50,000 dollars extra by the swans. Probably cost us atleast a couple of flags.

Malcolm blight deciding to go all defensive at the start of 1993.

2006 club review. Dont know why we haven't done another since.

Gary ablett signing.

Scarlett toe poke

Lindner refusing to boot the ball long in the 89 grand final after we started to get our typical momentum game going. Instead turned it over with a dinky play and hawthorn ran down and booted a goal. Momentum killed.
Id say that Greg Williams one definitely cost us a couple of flags.
He really wanted to stay at the club. I heard it was an extra 50 bucks a game he wanted.
 
Id say that Greg Williams one definitely cost us a couple of flags.
He really wanted to stay at the club. I heard it was an extra 50 bucks a game he wanted.
Finals yes, but premierships?
 

Farmer2Goggin

Norm Smith Medallist
Aug 17, 2009
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Most of these have been covered but significant ones that come to mind :

> Ablett Snr , GOAT giving so much enjoyment and 2 father sons
> 2006 Review , Leading Teams and player honesty and ownership , restructuring Bombers role , Balme on board
> Cook / Costa - professionalism and financial prudence - avoided bankruptcy and set foundation for ground development we have now
> 2007 Roos loss / Tigers demolition - greatest turnaround ever? , kick started the "era"
> Captaincy - last 3 have been awesome - Harley / Ling and the Timbermerchant
> Patronage - Alex Popescue and Ford
> 2007 season - start of being a power club
 

Spazz Cat

Brownlow Medallist
Jun 10, 2013
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Finals yes, but premierships?
Yep. Its forgotten a bit how great a player he was. One of the all time greats. Up there with Carey and Ablett in his time.
We lost 89 by 6 points, lost the 91 prelim by about a goal, had he played for us instead of Carlton in 95 they wouldn't have even made the GF.
I think he would have been the difference in snagging a couple in that era.
 

Catsnlakers

Even Hank Moody is in awe of Geelong!
Oct 2, 2016
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Ill go with a particular moment from a game.... As great as we were in 2007 and onward, we stared down the chokers tag in the 2007 prelim when gaz jr roved and kicked a great goal from the throw in..... At that point we hadnt won for 44 years and if we lost that game you never know if we would of recovered.
 

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