Geelong's biggest rival

[Buddy and Roughy]

Please just Geelong supporters vote!

I've included just obvious contenders in the poll to avoid dilluting the results

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

Hawks for me, both teams always get set for a monster clash no matter who's in our out

 

[BotsMaster]

Hawks easily, although there seems to be a bit of rivalry with Fremantle as every game between the two a fight breaks out.

 

[GoCattas]

Saints since 04... but they are at the other end of the ladder now.


Cop that!

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Please just Geelong supporters vote!

I've included just obvious contenders in the poll to avoid dilluting the results

Like Melbourne...

 

[cats81]

It is and has been the Hawks for me since I started following the Cats as a tacker...back before my time im sure there were other just as big rivalrys for the Cats with teams like Melbourne in the 50s

 

[David the Cat]

18 voters.....18 Hawthorns


Says it all really.

 

[Copernicus]

I think we can put this one to bed

 

[candiehappy]

and it won't matter where on the ladder they are come round 12, it'll still be a huge game. I'm 3 1/2 hours drive from melbourne, but I always go to the cats v hawks & saints games.

 

[Buddy and Roughy]

prior to 2008, was hawthorn still clearly geelong's biggest rival or did that create it to a degree?

 

[Craigyboy]

At the present time Hawthorn, but if you are talking historically (say prior to the 1980's) then Collingwood.

 

[SJ]

prior to 2008, was hawthorn still clearly geelong's biggest rival or did that create it to a degree?

I would have said St Kilda. Can still make a case for them now actually.

 

[Furious_G]

For the past decade, I would say the Saints. The Hawks games have only been classics since 2007/08.

 

[witsend]

I voted Saints but it seems we've run them out of town. Rivalries are built on epic contests, of which this group has had the most with St Kilda. The next big one will be Collingwood for sure over the next 2 years or so.
Historically though, there's always something extra in a Hawthorn/Cats game, although again, I think the sting is about to leave that one for a while. Wouldn't be surprised to see us blow Hawthorn away in a few weeks.
Often the club/players have different rivalries than supporters.
I have a mate who played for Carlton and is still part of the club and I always thought their big rival was Collingwood, but he told me the club didn't really buy into it that much. The club they really hated was Essendon.

 

[Partridge]

I would have said St Kilda. Can still make a case for them now actually.

I'd go for Collingwood. I'm actually quite surprised at how many people say Hawthorn. They've played a grand total of 6 finals against each other over 86 years, including 3 Grand Finals. We've played 3 Prelim finals alone against Collingwood in the last 4 years. Plus at least 4 Grand Finals I can think of (1930, 1937, 1952, 1953). Not even a contest in my opinion.

 

[Partridge]

prior to 2008, was hawthorn still clearly geelong's biggest rival or did that create it to a degree?

As I said, to me Hawthorn has never been Geelong's biggest rival. A few of their supporters might think that's the case but it just doesn't stand up.

Compare how many finals the teams have played against each other, Collingwood are way, way ahead. Not even close.

 

[David the Cat]

I'd go for Collingwood. I'm actually quite surprised at how many people say Hawthorn. They've played a grand total of 6 finals against each other over 86 years, including 3 Grand Finals. We've played 3 Prelim finals alone against Collingwood in the last 4 years. Plus at least 4 Grand Finals I can think of (1930, 1937, 1952, 1953). Not even a contest in my opinion.

Rivalries aren't only born from finals. Some of the H&A games played between the Hawks and Geelong have been awesome spectacles and spectacular in so many different ways. I think since 1989, over ALL games, the Hawks take the cake.

The fact that we haven't beaten them in a final since 63 also adds to that assessment.

 

[Copulator]

Late charge from Carlton

 

[Copernicus]

Late charge from Carlton

I can understand choosing one of Hawthorn/Collingwood/St Kilda, but Carlton?

 

[Wish Wellingtons]

Has to be Collingwood now that the Saints are shit.

I think the Geelong Hawthorn rivalry is tapering a bit, they are great games but we have won the last 5 or so and we haven't played any finals against each other since that fateful day... Not really a rivalry any more.

 

[bergy]

Has been Hawthorn since 89 G/F for me.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Rivalries aren't only born from finals. Some of the H&A games played between the Hawks and Geelong have been awesome spectacles and spectacular in so many different ways. I think since 1989, over ALL games, the Hawks take the cake.

The fact that we haven't beaten them in a final since 63 also adds to that assessment.

This is the problem. The best 'rivalry' with a team has to be about mutual respect albeit even if you hate the other team. The fact is we have not beaten Hawthorn when it matters for a long time, in contrast they've ended our season on countless occasions. I would say Hawthorn supporters (and the club) would list Essendon as their biggest rival, not us.

Our biggest modern rival has to be St Kilda given the similar and contemporaneous rise to the top. We've played them in the last thee finals series including a Grand Final. Home and away matches over a 7-8 year period have usually been note-worthy contests, particularly the last three years.

Again, weve got recent history against the Pies but they would not consider us their biggest rival.

 

[Bastet]

While there's a definite case to be made for Collingwood and/or St Kilda (almost selected St Kilda), I agree there always seems to be something extra about Hawthorn-Geelong games for me; always has been since I was a kid, even at times when either of or both teams weren't travelling too well. It's primarily a matter of perception though, I suppose.

As a general point, a true "rivalry" is built over years, even decades; the selection of teams to choose from in the poll demonstrates that (for the avoidance of doubt, I'm talking to you, members of the AFL and the media who might consider trying to manufacture a contrived "rivalry" between us and the Gold Coast Plastic Fantastics or any other newly minted "franchise"...).

 

[candiehappy]

For the past decade, I would say the Saints. The Hawks games have only been classics since 2007/08.

I can't agree with this. I'm over 50 and I would say since the '89 granny. That we lost the next 3 just made '89 worse, given how close it was.

 

[Craigyboy]

I can't agree with this. I'm over 50 and I would say since the '89 granny. That we lost the next 3 just made '89 worse, given how close it was.

+1.

I am approaching 40 years old and put the modern Hawthorn rivalry down to factors including the Leigh Matthews incident, the 1989 Grand Final and the 1991 2nd Semi-Final. Also; home and away games since the mid-1980's have always been hotly contested.