The Geelong Football Club would not be what it is today without the incredible support from our loyal members and fans. 

As the club prepares to celebrate Member Thank You Round on Sunday afternoon as the Cats take on Port Adelaide, check out some of the top stories of how our fans came to support the Blue and White Hoops. 

Gerard Sweeney

I came to Geelong from the UK at the end of 2008 and started watching the Cats in 2010 as I was jokingly told that it was a condition on my visa.

My first game was the first home game of the season against Port Adelaide when we scored 11 goals in the third quarter. I missed about 5 of them as I had been sent on a hot chips run for the kids.

My favourite memory is of Zac Tuohy scoring after the siren to beat Melbourne. The most remarkable final term I’ve ever been present to see. 

Jordan Schaeche

I wasn't a big fan of football for a long time, but we went over to my older brothers for the grand final in 2022, as he is a Cats fan and we all enjoy spending time together.

But as I was watching the Cats dominate the Swans, I thought Geelong were very entertaining to watch, so since then, I'm now with my brother as the 2 Cats Supporters of the family.

Izzy Konevski

My mum is a Cats fan and she got me into footy when I was 7 years old, watching the drought breaking 2007 Grand Final and I knew the Cats was going to be my team for life.

My favourite footy memory is the 2016 Qualifying Final against the arch rivals Hawthorn, when Issac Smith missed a set shot after the siren and we won the game to advance to the Preliminary Final. 

Britt Kennedy

I became a Cats supporter because my older sister told me I wasn't allowed to support her team (Essendon), so I chose the Cats as my grandfather supported them and I lived in Western Victoria so Geelong was the closest team to us.

Photo is from 2011 Grand Final - ultimate success!

Rosalie Sorraghan

When I moved to Geelong from Bendigo at age 14 or 15 I was a Collingwood supporter, but thank goodness my best friend Linda and her family changed me and I quickly became a Cats supporter, and have been now for many, many years. 😁🤣

John Wilkinson

Growing up as an Aussie in the UK I had no idea about AFL/VFL.

Then I met my cousin, Mark Yeates, who visited us with a few mates, Andrew Bews and others. This sparked my interest. Then at the age of 9 we moved back to Australia and Mark visited us in Adelaide and I learned about his dad Uncle John Yeates playing and the 1989 GF.

I was smitten and I’ve been a smitten kitten ever since!

Eric Hartmann

My dad got me into footy. He would listen to K-Rock and hear about Geelong, so he started watching and I picked up an interest ever since 2008!

I was lucky enough to go to the 2022 Grand final and also that year, I decided to go to the AFLW to give it a go and have absolutely loved it ever since, going to almost every game the past two years and will continue that trend this year too!

I have made so many friends and memories, including that amazing final against Melbourne!

Sarah Zeestraten

Kardinia Park as a little one, Dads old jumper, way too big! On the gravel hill, watching footy and kicking rocks and bottle caps .... and screaming Yaaabbbllleettt!

I was born a cats supporter.

Val Moore

My favourite pic of my Mum in 1989. I became a Cats member in 1987 when my doctor suggested that me and my Mum should go to a footy match to relieve stress and grief after my Dad passed away. We didn’t really follow a team, but from that day on in 1987, we were hooked! Go Cats and thank you for the memories…winning, losing and drawing 💙🤍💙

Keith Florance

I remember back to 1962 my father used to take me to the Fitzroy games and I didn't like them much, and the man next door barracked for the Cats and I thought they looked like a pretty good team, I'll barrack for them.

The next year they won the flag and then we had to wait until 2007, but it was worth the wait. Look at us now, another flag this year would be nice. GO CATS!

Scott Lewis

My dad played country footy in Tassie for Poatina in 1963. The club went on an end of year trip to the VFL Grand Final that year, and as the boys stood outside the MCG deciding who to barrack for that day, the group chose Hawthorn.

Dad decided to barrack for Geelong, they won, and he was a supporter ever since.

I inherited the passion for the Cats in 1979 when my parents came home from the hospital with my newborn brother, and a Geelong Cats footy for me.

Jane Jamieson

Coming from Scotland in 1988, we were hooked from the start as we used to watch some AFL/VFL back home. The person that stood out to me back then was Johnie Platten from Hawthorn with his curly long hair.

We came to Geelong and lived in East Geelong with family and they were the ones that encouraged us to go to a game at Kardinia Park and that was it, my passion for the Geelong Football Club was born and it has grown into a multi generational tradition with 3 generations now members with seats in the Joel Selwood stand.

Most of my family are still in Scotland and my youngest sister is into Aussie Rules too, she watches regularly from Scotland and her favourite player is Tyson Stengle.

Jeff Peppas

Moved to Geelong from North Queensland in 2006 and worked out pretty quickly that we can't live in Geelong and not support the Cats.

Has been a great ride since and was lucky enough to get to the 2011 Grand Final and see them beat the Pies - this year is feeling very similar and hoping for a repeat.

Next best memory is Jezza doing the victory lap after beating Carlton at the G last year and doubling back to sign my golf mad sons driver head cover. Fire up boys for a big finish this year.

Robyn Kerdel

In my Grade 5 class in 1969 they would hand out footy tickets each week for kids to go to the game. I finally got the courage to put my hand up and arrived home with the tickets and begged my dad to take me and my brother to the footy with him.

We didn't have a car so walked all the way there and stood on cans in the outer so we could see. Have been going ever since!

Mackenzie Emery

I became a Geelong supporter because of my best friends family. My family were massive Collingwood and Brisbane lions supporters, my dad would dress me in Brisbane lions stuff and my best friends family would make sure they had an extra jersey and scarf I could put one once my dad left 😂

Emma Delladio

Born and breed Geelong supporters, Dad fell in love with the Geelong Cats moving from Wales to here.

They would take us to games at the old Kardinia Park or climbing the fence as a young teen and oh the training nights, waiting to see the players come out and collect autographs on the old players cards (I remember a few being garbos and stopping to kick the footy with the kids from Francis St).

Now I have two children and two grandbabies, all Geelong supporters thanks to my parents and GEELONG.

Bryan Manson

I became a Geelong Cats supporter because my dad (David Manson) played for the cats between 1976-1978.

I fell in love with Geelong Cats by hearing all of his football stories. I am so proud to support a great team that means so much to my family. Love you dad and go the Cats!!!

Derek Francis

I became a Cats supporter just before I started Prep. I kept switching teams to the teams my kindergarten friends followed and going into primary school, my family tried to get me to return to the family’s club Collingwood.

The pep talk to follow Collingwood ended with me getting a Geelong scarf and a Geelong jumper with Neville Bruns number 19 on the back. I’ve never looked back and my son and wife are also Cats supporters. I broke the trend.