Friday, September 28, 2007

Cat lovers unite


Late tonight, Brooklyn time, the AFL (Australian Football League) Grand Final will take place. It's a matchup of the season's giants- it's no major upset to see top placed Geelong take on second placed Port Adelaide. The last few years, with my beloved Carlton far from the running, I've taken a purely neutral interest. But this one is different. Geelong, the mighty Cats, are my mum's team. And family is family.

When Geelong last took the flag in 1963, Mum was 19 and, like many young fans, pretty sure more good times lay ahead. And while the Cats never went really bad in the meantime, they never achieved greatness either. In that time, they finished as runners up in 1967, 1989, 1992, 1994, and 1995. The '89 Grand Final in particular, won in an epic finish by Hawthorn, is remembered as one of the greatest games ever played. But 6 points behind might as well be 60 when the final siren sounds.

So this one's for you, Mum. It's time for all Cat lovers to pray, wish, hope, use the force, whatever they can do to help Geelong win that elusive flag. Port tasted success just three years ago- let them wait a little longer.

Go Cats!

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