Above: Nokia tries valiantly to defend the Cats record.
Goodness me, that's
my point.
We came from being a poor VFA side, thrown in the deep end of the VFL where we floundered for 30+ years, bumping along the bottom of the ladder. Then, through grit, determination and hard work, we became a powerhouse - 13 flags since 1961 - and the best average of flags won versus seasons played of any VFL side.
Geelong on the other hand, were a VFA powerhouse, who since joining the VFL have been a peripheral, country town minnow. Of the original 8 clubs to join the VFL, the Cats were the second last to win a flag - only beating St.Kilda.
The year Hawthorn joined the competition - 1925 - the Cats won their first ever flag. Even accounting for the 35 years of Hawthorn being terrible, the Hawks passed Geelong on the 'Premierships Won' table in 1988 (6 to 7) and then left them behind.
And even today, when the Cats fans
should be rejoicing in winning 3 flags in 5 years, the Hawks, yet again, piss on their parade by doing what the Cats couldn't do - go back to back - TWICE!
To add real salt to the wounds, the Hawks in 2015 posted a profit of $3,300,000 while the poor old Cats lost the exact same amount and the Hawks won a three-peat whilst the Cats missed the finals.