My journey's far from unique among Giants. I love Geelong: the city, the culture, the way that the Cats are run. I love the humility of the club, the players & the fans, and they really do "play the game the way it should be played". It's a fantastic organisation at every level, and it wouldn't surprise me to see them surge in the second half of the season right through to another premiership. I will never, ever bag the Cats.
But I live in Sydney. I don't have access to either RuperTel or 7Mite, so my only chance of actually watching the Cats as they play will be one Friday night in late June (and as I've just realised that I've already missed the cut-off to give 4 weeks notice in order to get seating in the Cats' area for that SCG game, even that lone chance has evaporated). So I won't get to use my interstate membership to attend a single Geelong game this year.
I live in Sydney. Every Thursday night after work I public transport my way out to Breakfast Point and help make the cheer squad banner. And since the Bullies' game in Canberra, I've been there on the field holding it up as the players charge through it for every 'home' game (plus for the Brisbane away game, thanks to a flukey winning of a Virgin Airlines competition). A large number of the club's managers, admin staff & players come out to those banner making sessions and chat with us or actually get down on hands and knees and help make the banner. Yes, even players (how many other teams can claim the same?). There are three of the regular AFL team with whom I am on first name basis (but it's not just me, as all of the core Cheer Squad members have struck up similar friendships with various players).
I am very actively involved annoying the crap out of two superb staffers (all credit to Andrea & Kirsty for their infinite tolerance) with a barrage of suggestions each week, and they even act on some of them (I played a very minor part in getting the 6 big flags which debuted in the cheer squad against Essendon made up). I've spoken to Sheeds on a number of occasions, and Choc a couple of times (again, a highly unexceptional situation for any Giants fan), and like so many Giants' members, I've had the chances to talk to anybody and everybody within the club after games at the club functions. As per the GWS membership ads, we fans really do "own this club". GWS is not a 'family club': it's a family.
Now as much as I love Geelong - and I do still love Geelong - there is no way that I can have these sort of experiences with the Cats while I live in Sydney (there isn't even a SydCats supporters' group). I actually feel as though my minor volunteer activities with GWS are actually helping to spread the love of our great indigenous game throughout what has traditionally been an Aussie Rules no-go zone. I deeply believe that, through the Giants (and the Suns), a group of passionate True Believers can spread the AFL to every last previously untouched corner of this wide brown land, and that when we do inevitably succeed in establishing our club, the entire AFL, including my blessed Cats, will benefit.
My closest friendships are rapidly becoming those I have with my fellow members of the GWS cheer squad currently sharing my odyssey. I have been told at work that I am looking fitter, stronger and happier than anybody there has ever seen me (and I've been in my current office for six years).
I can't have these experiences, nor establish these relationships with Geelong. So I guess that I have become a Giant. Albeit, one who will always have a very soft spot for the Cats.
Bookmarks