If you’re like me, you may not be aware that our great club’s identity was born out of superstition.

Legend has it that after a run of losses in 1923 a newspaper cartoonist suggested Geelong’s form was so bad it needed a black cat to give it good luck. That weekend - to everyone’s amazement - Geelong pulled off an unbelievable upset against Carlton. To keep the luck going the players pinned cutout cats to their clothes and from then on, the Geelong Football Club lost its nickname the ‘Pivotonians’ to become the ‘Cats’. The Cat emblem, designed by key forward Lloyd Hagger 92 years ago, is the same you see on Geelong’s current day jumper.

From there, the supernatural rituals just got creepier. In 1925 the Cats defeated Collingwood to win their first VFL/AFL premiership. To mark the occasion, they buried a Magpie under Corio Oval. And after every premiership until the 2007 flag, the Cats continued the sacrificial burial ceremonies as an omen to the football gods.

Grand Final Burials:

1925 – Buried dead Magpie (Corio Oval)

1931 – Buried Tiger soft toy (Corio Oval)

1937 – Buried dead Magpie (Corio Oval)

1951 – Buried Bombers toy figurine (Kardinia Park)

1952 – Buried dead Magpie – roadkill (Kardinia Park)

1963 – Buried Hawk figurine (Kardinia Park)

2007 – Tradition ended

And the current crop of Cats isn’t afraid to dabble in the art of superstition, although their pre-match rituals are a little less extreme.

PRE-GAME RITUALS:

TOM HAWKINS – Must wear his favourite pair of red budgie smugglers each game. The Tomahawk is also paranoid he’ll be late to the ground and miss the start, so he is always one of the first to arrive on match day.

JOEL SELWOOD – Like Hawkins the skipper wears the same pair of Speedos each game – always washed of course.

MARK BLICAVS: The big Cat listens to Kanye West leading up to a game and must eat pasta the night before every match.

MATHEW STOKES – Always eats ‘Froot Loops’ and ‘Weet Bix’ mixed together for breakfast before each game. For good luck he used to always run out next to Darren Milburn.

JAMES KELLY – Like Stokes, breakfast is important for Kelly who eats ‘Just Right’ cereal mixed together with ‘Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes’ before every game.

BILLIE SMEDTS – Always kicks the ball with James Kelly prior to a clash for good luck.

JIMMY BARTEL – Drinks an iced coffee before each match to get him revved up.

HARRY TAYLOR – Used to wear zinc cream in every game regardless of the weather. But has now decided to scrap it altogether to avoid embarrassment when the roof is closed at Etihad stadium.

COREY ENRIGHT – For the first half of his stunning career Boris would always ensure trainers strapped his left ankle before his right. But now the superstar defender is more laid back.

TOM LONERGAN – The ever reliable Cats defender hates being ready too early and leaves his change room preparations as late as possible.

So let’s hope the football gods shine upon us the second half of the year.

Go Cats!

Sean Sowerby

Channel 7 News Weekend Sports Presenter/Reporter

Geelong Cats Member