Welcome to the Ablett Gallery - a pictorial tribute to the greatest player of the greatest game for the greatest team and to the Geelong Football Club. Scroll down for a short history of the Cats.

Entered VFL/AFL: 1897

Home Ground: Skilled Stadium (Kardinia Park), Geelong.

Address: La Trobe Tce., Geelong

Postal Address: P.O Box 461, GEELONG 3220

COLOURS: GUERNSEY: Navy Blue and White hoops
SOCKS: Navy Blue and White hoops
SHORTS: Home: Navy Blue; Away: White

Premierships: 6 - 1925, 1931, 1936,1951-52,1963

Recent Grand Finals: 1989 (Hawthorn) - 1992 (West Coast) - 1994 (West Coast) - 1995 (Carlton).

Brownlows: 4 - E. 'Carjie'Greeves -1924, Bernie Smith -1951, Alistair Lord -1962, Paul Couch -1989

GROUND CAPACITY - 2002: 28,000

RECORD HOME ATTENDANCE: 49,109 August 20, 1952 V Carlton

GAMES RECORD HOLDER: Ian Nankervis - 325

CLUB'S GREATEST GOAL KICKER: Gary Ablett - 1021

A SHORT HISTORY

Geelong has worn the blue and white hoops since 1896. Prior to this, there were several variations of uniform and before 1873 no-one had even thought of uniforms of grouping colours.

Geelong is one of the leagues oldest clubs having helped co-found the league in 1897.

During the formative years, Geelong was known variously as the Seagulls, Pivotonians and Black Cats, from which the present day Cats have evolved.

The AFL's highest honour, the Brownlow Medal, is named after Charles Browlow, a former Geelong secretary.

A tireless administrator, Brownlow was associated with the club for about 40 years.

He was a player in the early days and captained the side when it won the VFA premiership (the VFA operated between 1870 and 1897 when the VFL was formed following a breakaway).

Along with that claim to fame, Mr Tom W. Wills, of Geelong, is regarded by some as being the founder of the game itself.

That form of the game started in Geelong in 1856 with the club formed three years later in 1859.

Geelong is now known throughout Australia, and the world, for its football team.

The first premiership in the newly formed competition came in 1925, the first year with the twelve VFL clubs.

In the 1930's, the big names at Cat Land included Reg Hickey, George Maloney, 'Jacka' Todd, Jack Collins and 'Carjie' Greeves (below), the club's first Brownlow Medalist.

Hickey was a member of the 1931 premiership side, captain-coach of the 1937 team and non-playing coach of the successful 1951 and '52 combinations.

Geelong's home at Kardinia Park was established in 1940 after the original base at Corio Oval was taken over by the military as part of World War 2 effort.

War-time restrictions also forced another change for the Cats - the club was unable to field a team in the VFL during 1942 and '43 but bounced back in 1944.

The Cats returned to football after the war and was appointed coach in 1949.

The most successful period for the club was the early 1950's when they won two premierships and were beaten in another Grand Final.

1951 is remembered as a particularly successful season with the Cats winning the flag, Bernie Smith winning the Brownlow for a second time in a row and another Geelong player taking out the goal-kicking.

Geelong won the flag again in 1952 and it was obvious that the club was in the midst of one of it's greatest era's.

They were the days when the Wily Reg Hickey coached big names such as Bernie Smith, Fred Flanigan, Bob Davis, Peter Pianto and Bruce Morrison.

The Cats won 23 games on end in 1951-52, a record which still stands.

The 50's also saw a fantastic administration led by A.R "Jack" Jennings.

During his 30-year association with the club, he served a record 26-years as president and four years as committeeman.

The Cats made the final four in every year between 1959 and 1956 but inexplicably dropped to wooden spooners in 1957.

Then came former flying winger, Bob Davis to coach and with him came the 1963 premiership.

Davis was in charge of stars who included Fred Wooler, Polly Farmer, Bill Goggin and John Sharrock.

The Cats made the grand final again in 1967 but were beaten by Richmond.

Then came the late eighties to the mid-nineties. We had a truck-load of supremely skilled footballers including Gary Ablett, Garry Hocking, Mark Bairstow, Brownlow medalist Paul Couch, Ken Hinkley and Bruce Lindner (below).

We also had a coach in Mal Blight who fitted in a the club like a hand in a glove. Freakishly skilled and flamboyant as a player, enigmatic and cutting-edge coach he and the great players who wore the hoops under him, embodied what following Geelong is all about.

Between 1989 and 1995 we lost four Grand Finals. This will only make impending success that much sweeter for supporters of the leagues founding club.

And success does look imminent.

Bomber Thompson and the team are doing us proud. They have a real go and seem to learn quickly from their mistakes. They are also extremely talented footballers. Lets hope we can hold on to these young blokes and the coach and that the roller coaster ride is almost over.

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