John Devine at training in 1966. Credit: Geelong Advertiser and Bob Gartland Collection

Geelong Cats congratulate three former Cats who have been awarded King’s Birthday Honours, for their service to Australian Football and the Geelong Football Club.

Bob Gartland, Gareth Andrews and John Devine have all received King’s Birthday Honours in 2023, recognising their outstanding service to the Australian Football community.  

Bob Gartland received his award for incredible service to the community of Geelong, including the Geelong Football Club and a number of ground breaking initiatives.  

A Geelong Football Club board member for 12 years, Gartland has also been a strong advocate for the Geelong Sports Museum and other management committees.  

The businessman was also instrumental in the establishment of the not-for-profit palliative care hospital, Anam Cara House alongside Frank Costa, Kevin Dillon and founder Diane Wright.  

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Gareth Andrews received the King’s Birthday Honour for his significant service to the Australian Football League, as a player and administrator to men’s health and the community.  

Spending 15 years as the Cats vice-president, Andrews served alongside Frank Costa and Colin Carter in a period that included the 2007, 2009 and 2011 premierships.  

Andrews also played 167 games for Geelong and Richmond, an AFL Life Member while also co-founder of the AFL Players Association in 1973.   

The late John Devine received his King’s Birthday Honour for service to Australian Rules Football, and to the community of Tasmania, including as a captain, coach, player and Hall of Fame inductee.  

A brilliant half back-flanker for the Cats, Devine played in the 1963 Geelong Premiership and spending six years as vice captain, while also finishing runner up in the Carji Greeves Medal on multiple occasions.  

Devine was the coach of Geelong in 1986, and is credited for his role with the recruitment of a former Cats including Garry Hocking, Billy Brownless and Mark Bairstow.  

The Geelong Football Club would like to extend their congratulations, recognising the incredible service of these three men to the Club and to the Australian Football League.