‘A bit nerve-racking’: Geelong fans saturate city in blue and white ahead of AFL grand final

1 week ago 3

Nestled between plain beige suburban houses, Leigh Thomas’ Geelong property immediately stands out.

With a blue and white striped blanket on the front porch, a poster on the door, a navy scarf on the lamppost and a hand-sewn dreamcatcher in the window, Thomas’ home is a tribute to his beloved Cats before the AFL Grand Final on Saturday.

“We decorate the place whenever Geelong make the final,” the 78-year-old explains.

“I’m feeling a bit nervous … if Tom [Stewart] was in, I would have picked Geelong, but now it’s anyone’s game … 75 per cent of the game is played above the shoulders ... whoever decides they want it more.”

A lifelong Geelong fan, Thomas’ devotion to the Cats’ extends to the interior of his home.

There is a blue and white mat in the bathroom, a signed guernsey in the hallway, magnets on the fridge, and treasured framed photos of the team’s 1951 and 1952 premiership teams.

Geelong diehard supporter Leigh Thomas’ home is filled with treasured Cats memorabilia.

Thomas will watch the game in the comfort of his own home and joked he’ll have a quiet night regardless of the result.

“I’ll celebrate a win but not too much, I’m too old for that,” he says, joking. “We used to go to Town Hall all those years ago.”

Superfans like Thomas are preparing for Saturday’s grand final at the MCG – the first seniors AFL or VFL grand final between the Lions and Geelong. Both teams have multiple premierships and are competing in their seventh grand final of the 2000s era.

The Sporting Globe Bar and Grill in Geelong already has 400 people booked in for Saturday afternoon and manager Jordy May is predicting a record turnout.

Cats fan Jordy May is preparing for a busy grand final night at the Sporting Globe Bar & Grill in Geelong.

A self-described diehard Cats fan, May has spent the past few days helping decorate the bar with navy streamers, banners and balloons.

“I’m feeling nervous but excited for Saturday,” she says. “We beat Brisbane a few weeks ago, so I think we can do it. But it’s a bit nerve-racking being so close to a premiership. I reckon we can get it done.”

“In 2022, when we won, we did astronomical sales and hit our record,” she says. “So it’s a bit stressful getting ready for such a big event, but we feel prepared.”

There are no words in the English language to describe how excited the Dodds family are about the grand final.

Geelong fans Soli, 2, Parker, 6, Hemsley, 6, Atley, 8, Florence, 6, Teddy 4, Wilbur, 6 and Zeally, 3, will be cheering on the Cats in the grand final.

Eight-year-old Atley, six-year-old Hemsley and three-year-old Zeally have spent all week decorating their Highton home with navy streamers and balloons.

“The kids have been looking forward to it all week so hopefully Geelong win,” their mother Stacey says with a laugh. “We are going to the game, and the kids will head over to a friend’s place to watch it.”

Fellow Geelong superfan Carol Hague snagged coveted tickets to the grand final and will head to the MCG on Saturday with her friend.

The die-hard supporter has a gigantic Geelong Football Club sign stationed outside her home – a good luck charm for another premiership.