DAN COORAY

Member number: 134213

Back in 1995, I was a teenager growing up in Colombo, Sri Lanka when a new television channel called MTV started showing highlights of AFL games.

Being a rugby union player at my school, I was very interested at this new sport.

I watched the highlights every Sunday afternoon and I soon became hooked on the Cats.

Of course, they were one of the top teams that year and I loved watching Gary Ablett Snr dominate game after game.

I was able to watch the entire Grand Final against Carlton on television that year from my home in Sri Lanka.

Although the Cats lost, I was hooked on the club and have been ever since. My love for the club has never wavered.

In 1998, I arrived in Melbourne as a migrant. One of the first things I did was go to watch the mighty Cats play in a game at the MCG.

It was a brilliant experience, one that I will never forget.

I soon became a Cats member.

In 2002, I was rapt when the club recruited Gary Ablett Jnr under the father-son rule.

I remember saying to my mate who was a Richmond supporter, "Watch out! A son of God just arrived at the Cattery!"

I joined the Australian Army in 2006 and was posted to Darwin.

That meant I couldn't go to the drought-breaking Grand Final victory over Port Adelaide.

But even though I was only watching the game on the TV, I wept like a baby when the final siren sounded and my beloved Cats had won their first premiership in 44 years.

I love my Cats!