Taking on the Hawks minus two of their legends
We love the Hawks. Scratch that, we don’t love them. But we respect them. Two of the most respected in the past decade of epic games between the two clubs has been Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis. In 2017, however, the two Hawks champs will be running around as an Eagle and Demon respectively putting a much different spin on the Hawks v Cats midfield battle.
The return of Jackson Thurlow
Cats fans were cruelly robbed of seeing what should have been a break-out year for Jackson Thurlow in 2016 after he injured his ACL in the NAB Challenge clash at Shepparton. The good news is Jackson stole Popeye’s cookbook and has been eating spinach for days which has led to some of the biggest guns you have seen!
Opening the new Brownlow stand
Opposition fans may be sick about hearing about the Simonds Stadium redevelopments but us Cats fans will never be! Over the past 12 years, the Cats have been the only AFL club to put their own money into their home ground. The new Brownlow Stand will be the envy of grounds across Australia and the world. A humungous football department, incredible fan seating and amenities, a Fan Portal, new café, new shop, the list goes on and on. And you won’t want to be anywhere else on May 19 when we open it to the world!
Tigers coming to back to Simonds Stadium
KB won’t be happy but boy are we! The Cats have been crying out to get some of the bigger Melbourne clubs to travel all 75 kilometres down the highway to Simonds Stadium and finally in 2017 it’ll happen! Not since 2012 have the Tigers ventured down our way and Cats fans will be ready and waiting for a loud reception.
The launch of the Cats VFLW side
It is pretty unbelievable to think that Geelong has had a football side for 157 years but that they’ve only been men playing for them. All that will change in 2017 when the Cats side runs out in the VFL Women’s league. With a provisional licence pending in the AFLW league, next year will be a massive first step for women’s football in the Geelong region.
2007 premiership celebration
Can you believe it has been ten years?! That’s right next season will mark ten years since the Cats thrashed Port Adelaide to win their first VFL/AFL premiership in 44 years. Whilst the Moorabool St celebrations from that night in September 2007 may not be reached, the party will sure be a big one.
The Country Programs returns
After a rousing success in 2016, the Powercor Country Program returns in 2017 with the Cats and Bombers to clash in Bendigo in the JLT Community Series before the marquee match-up in round eight at the MCG. The pre-match farmers market sold out quickly in 2016 and with wood chopping, John Williamson and the CFA out and about, this will be a game to not miss in 2017.
Heading to Tassie for the first time since 2007
The Apple Isle has a special spot in the heart of the Cats. Current Cats Jake Kolodjashnij and Jackson Thurlow are both from Tasmania and neither has had the opportunity to play in front of their home ground since being drafted. In fact the last time the Cats played off-shore was 2007 when they took on the Hawks at York Park.
Increased General Admission at Simonds Stadium
In 2017, Cats general admission members will have more spots than ever before at Simonds Stadium as the amount of general admission seats and standing room swells from 1500 to 4000! And with recent updates and improvements, members need only to walk up to the gate and scan their card to get access to the general admission areas. Did we happen to mention all the blockbuster games at Simonds Stadium next year?!
Watching our team play the game as it should be played
2016 didn’t end how we wanted it to. A season filled with promise failed at the penultimate hurdle. There was plenty to cheer about throughout the season and some performances truly showed “we play the game as it should be played”. Over the last 157 years that is something that has never wavered. No matter what we will be proud of how our team represents our town and us in 2017.
