Key points
- Cats fans enjoyed their team’s easy win from outside Kardinia Park.
- Business groups say Geelong’s grand final appearance helps to boost the local economy.
- Celebrations were expected to continue well into the night.
Chants and cheers rang out across Geelong well before the final siren, as jubilant Cats supporters revelled in their team’s dominant performance from the communal viewing site outside Kardinia Park.
There was barely a nervous moment for the crowd, made up mostly of families sitting on camping chairs and blankets in the afternoon sun.
Cats fans soak up the grand final win outside Kardinia Park. Credit:Meredith O’Shea
Supporters waved flags and some danced as Geelong piled on the goals and their elation swelled throughout the afternoon.
The crowd size easily exceeded 1000 people as fans filed in to Anthony Costa Oval to watch the match on two big screens, and numbers grew throughout the game.
The Cats faithful were full of smiles, although some fans wiped away tears as the final quarter wore on and the moment of joy neared. Joel Selwood’s last quarter goal brought the crowd to its feet in an eruption of cheers and hugs.
Former Geelong cheer squad member Tracey Harrison said it was a magnificent win.
“I’m so happy,” she said moments after the final siren. “My heart’s just pounding.”
She said her hands were sore from clapping as she cheered throughout the game, urging on the crowd on with chants of “Geelong”.
The crowd whooped with delight when footage of them at the live site flashed up on the screens. But Swans’ goals were met with near silence.
Celebrations in Geelong’s city centre were expected to stretch well into Sunday morning.
Within minutes of the final siren, the City of Greater Geelong announced it would host a street parade on Tuesday to celebrate the win.
Tracey Harrison a longtime Geelong supporter waiting for the game to start as Geelong fans begin to gather at Kardinia Park in Geelong on 2022 AFL grand final day.Credit:Meredith O’Shea
Supporter Frank Anderson was pacing between the quarters, almost too anxious to watch the game. Although the Cats were dominant in the first half, Anderson said it would take another six or seven goals to settle down.
“I’m always nervous,” he said.
He need not have worried.
Anderson said he was originally from Geelong but moved to Adelaide about 20 years ago. He remains a Cats member, but was unable to get tickets to the MCG.
Cats fan Frank Anderson celebrates a Geelong goal.Credit:Meredith O’Shea
Genny Smith travelled from Melbourne to watch the game with fellow Geelong supporters. She said the win was “sweet revenge” after her team’s grand final loss in 2020.
“Everyone was saying we’re too old, too slow, but we’ve won it,” she said.
Smith said the Cats had shown great resilience throughout the season. “We couldn’t be more proud of this team.”
But some fans said the crowd was smaller than they expected, due to the City of Greater Geelong only announcing the live viewing site on Friday – likely after many supporters had made other plans.
Tourism Geelong Bellarine executive director Brett Ince said Saturday’s showdown offered the Cats a chance for redemption following their 2020 loss to Richmond, while also delivering an economic boost to the regional city.
In 2020, Melbourne was in lockdown and Geelong was still under heavy coronavirus restrictions. Ince said the grand final attracted Geelong supporters in the days leading up to the match who wanted to soak up the atmosphere with family and friends, but could not get tickets to game.
“We are seeing really steady and strong accommodation bookings,” he said.
Ince said he expected millions of additional dollars would be spent in the region over the grand final weekend, but thought the economic benefits would be even greater due to the win.
G21 Geelong Region Alliance chief executive Giulia Baggio said the city’s future had been uncertain in 2011, with both Ford and Alcoa closing down in the region.
But she said the premiership win was a fitting moment for the “revival” of Geelong.
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