Geelong – most loved to most disliked?

[Gibbsy]

Plenty of people had the Cats as their second-favourite team during the flag era of 2007-11 and rightly so. They played (and still do play) fast, attractive footy and had a great sense of camaraderie between teammates and coach. A lot of neutrals appeared to enjoy the success that Geelong enjoyed after having so many years without a flag.

Now just quickly going through the gameday thread and how the tide has turned. There were West Coast supporters vehemently barracking for Freo (!) simply because they didn't want to see Geelong win. Countless number of posts about the lopsided umpiring too, and how the victory was a win to the umps/AFL/etc.

Why are Geelong being disliked? Is it because they have been too good for so long? (Probably an unfair reason to dislike them) Or is it because they have appeared to have been getting an armchair ride by the umps/AFL for some time?

 

[Superduperouzel]

Freo were underdogs today. People like underdogs. Nothing to see here.

 

[Connoisseur]

Tall Poppy Syndrome.

 

[xown]

Definitely not most disliked, that will award will never be taken away from Collingwood.

 

[jasonstackhouse]

hard to support a team to win when theyre getting heavily favoured by the umps

 

[Latro]

How can anyone like a team with a terrible human being like Johnson in it.

 

[Tony_Clifton]

Joel Selwood free kicks.

 

[box1]

I usually love watching them but tonight was just ****ing annoying

 

[Hawkk]

Can't see how any neutral could ever barrack for a Ross Lyon coached team

Ross Lyon / Paul Roos football is the greatest threat to the future growth of the code

 

[Igloo]

I've hated Geelong forever. I feel special.

 

[Baby Duck]

hard to support a team to win when theyre getting heavily favoured by the umps

Drug cheating is worse, surely?

 

[Moist Biscuit]

It's hard to like a side whose captain is the worst player in the competition for playing for free kicks.

 

[Moist Biscuit]

Drug cheating is worse, surely?

Nope.

 

[Roy boys]

Love Jimmy but cannot stand Selwood, Johnson and Guthrie.. Hard to like a team with those 3.

 

[Tas]

I don't dislike Geelong, I dislike the umpires.

 

[timtamWB]

How can anyone like a team with a terrible human being like Johnson in it.

You support a team with Ballantyne in it.

 

[Baby Duck]

Nope.

Cry me a river of tears please.

 

[Skerret]

Joel Selwood free kicks.

Almost a complete sentence, you're improving! Proud of ya bud.

 

[tangolikelama]

2007 burnt a forever lasting hatred of Geelong into me

 

[Gibbsy]

Love Jimmy but cannot stand Selwood, Johnson and Guthrie.. Hard to like a team with those 3.

Geez what has Guthrie done wrong?! I barely notice the bloke

 

[DardySingh360]

I'd still barrack for them in a Grand Final over Sydney or Hawthorn.

 

[Moist Biscuit]

Cry me a river of tears please.

 

[Ripper]

Not the Cats fault. If anything the last two weeks has made it plain that the AFL do not want a QF in (and then most likely a PF) in Sydney and Perth.

 

[gutsroy]

I'm not anti-Geelong, think they're a very good side and very entertaining to watch in general. What struck me and had me barracking for Freo tonight:

1. Geelong players often tried to induced or make the umpires think there had been high contact and got a very good ride from the umpires tonight;
2. Steve Johnson is a very talented player but he gets involved in a fair few dirty acts, it goes way beyond 'self-defence', he initiates it too often for that.

Only other thing I can think of that I didn't like was last year after the finals loss to the Hawks, Selwood was talking about them having 'pinched it'. Poor form.

 

[Roy boys]

You support a team with Ballantyne in it.

Little superstar. And i'm certainly not a docker.