Yes, I’m jumping on the bandwagon. I’ve been a Geelong Cats fan for a long time, though it’s years since I’ve been to a game.

From what I can see, most years they do well in the first few rounds, then descend into a plumetting spiral of defeats. But not this year. They haven’t won every game, but they’ve finished on top of the ladder, and thumped North Melbourne in the first week of the finals. (Oh, do we not call them “North Melbourne” anymore?)

It would appear that the Cats have a fighting chance of winning the Premiership for the first time since 1963. (Hey, when did they stop calling the home ground “Kardinia Park“?)

So enthused am I by the prospect of a Cats Premiership that I’ve gone and bought myself a scarf. Okay, so I didn’t splurge for an official AFL scarf. No, I got a $5.50 “unauthorised” scarf (it has a sticker saying so) that I found at a discount shop down the street.

Marita asked me to get her a Bombers one. It looks like they’ve got away without having to subtly alter the colours or spelling, on condition of the disclaimer sticker. No doubt if they’d lost a trademark challenge, they would have had me supporting the Catts, and her the Bumbers. Or something like that.

Tell you what — if the Cats win the next final, I’ll buy a beanie too. Maybe even a (gasp) jersey. Like a real, authorised one, so the club gets some money from it.

Just don’t ask me who all the players are… (Hey, why do we have a coach with the nickname “bomber”?)

Anyway, Go Cats!!

PS. Trish won the Footy Tipping this year, and consequently will take home the Ugly Trophy for the year. Lucky Trish.