This is not the first omen:
The Geelong Football club has confirmed a senior player has been arrested over a scuffle involving police on the eve of the Cats bid to win their first premiership since 1963.
"Defender David Johnson was involved in an incident outside a Geelong night club last night. The police were called and are investigating the matter." Geelong spokesman Kevin Diggerson said in a statement today.
It's just another catalyst for another gut feeling that tomorrow won't be the catwalk Geelong fans seem to be anticipating.
Chip Le Gronday in the Australia:
WHEN Brisbane was at the height of its powers in 2003, anyone who spent grand final week at the Gabba would have seen a club comfortable with itself.
The team was confident in where it was headed and convinced in what the result would be. Walking away at the end of that week it was clear the Lions would win a third consecutive premiership.
The most revealing day was the Monday, when one player after the next sat down in a room full of reporters and answered a broad range of questions with startling self-assuredness. From Michael Voss to Simon Black to Mal Michael and Martin Pike; they all understood why Saturday's game would be won rather than lost.
The following year at Alberton, the experience was much the same. Senior coach Mark Williams, for all his reputation as a bit of a grouch, showed himself to be a warm, engaging personality. Uncelebrated players such as Josh Mahoney and Brett Montgomery enjoyed the chance to tell their stories.
Port Adelaide had never been that deep in a finals series. But like the Lions, the Power players handled themselves as if they had seen it all before.
Which brings us to Geelong this week. Like Brisbane in 2003, Geelong is the best team. Like Port Adelaide in 2004, the Cats have a perfect opportunity to amend the history of finals failures that hangs like an albatross around the club's neck. Yet Geelong, despite bold intentions and careful planning, appears lost in the September haze.
Reminiscent of federal Labor's spats for spoils, are reports club legend Bobby Davis has cracked the shits the Geelong players will stay in Melbourne instead of heading straight back to Geelong for the post-match celebrations. You think he'd know better.
Now, not one Geelong fan I've talked to has said Geelong are home; they aren't that stupid and they've probably worn out their fingers touching any and every bit of wood in Geelong. Nor are the even slightly smug. It's just that they seem serenely confident tomorrow will be The Great Day when the Catters finally get that premiership monkey off their back. They are asking for trouble.
"We'll never stop, stop, stop..."
Last word to Cameron Noakes in The Age, who seems to have picked up the same vibe. You've just got to wade through his issues to find it:
Hoops are high, but bandwagon doesn't bowl me over
WARNING: the following material contains content that may offend (especially if you're a Geelong fan).
I HAVE thoughts inside my head. Horrible, filthy, ineffable thoughts and I want them to stop, but they just won't stop.
People think I'm twisted. My wife thinks I'm despicable. She says if our relationship is to improve, I need to grow a beard and find my soul and write about beautiful things, truth and spirit, the grace of indigenous footballers and bucolic wonderlands.
My wife is secretly in love with Martin Flanagan.
One day, when I woke from a dream about '80s Caro, I caught her dreaming about Martin.
In the morning, she had a glow in her cheeks and she said "Let's go to Tasmania", and, "Why do indigenous footballers often win the Norm Smith Medal?"
I was furious. I said: "No" and "I don't know" and stormed out, thinking about Maurice Rioli, Peter Matera, Michael Long, Andy McLeod and Byron Pickett.
And I started thinking about Port Adelaide.
You see, I'm just a dirty Melbourne boy and I know I should be swept away by the music of Geelong, but I can't get Port out of my mind.
It sounds like treason, but I'm attracted to sporting superpowers and I like the fact that Port is in the business of putting cups in the cabinet.
Everything suggests that Geelong will smash the Power (take the brackets 43-60 points and 61-plus at FootyTAB) but I am worried.
I'm worried that we are all under the spell of the blue-and-white hoops.
I'm no official spokes-commenter for the cats but I don't know anyone who is serene at all and confidence is is fairly short supply within my circle.
We should win. But might not.
I support the decision to put in King for Blake. Blake was 5th best ruckman on the ground last week, with Ottens, Daylight, Richards and Bryan ahead of him. A "Big Body" will be needed to take on Lade and Brogan.
Posted by: Bruce | 28 September 2007 at 13:28
I sort of meant in a group way. Being a Melb supporter I know all about not being confident and I've said before that Geelong are like Melb in that respect, but I'm just getting a vibe of "this time!".
Agree absolutely about King/Blake. Big bodies are what matter in tight footy and Blake is a bean pole and was antsy pantsed last week.
Posted by: Tony T. | 28 September 2007 at 13:33
I'm rather leaning towards Port after reading today's media myself.
Posted by: Scott Wickstein | 28 September 2007 at 14:03
Agreed. I've been wondering how Geelong are going to man up so as not to get cut up.
Posted by: Tony T. | 28 September 2007 at 14:10
Although I think Port losing Wilson's hardness at the agate could be significant.
Posted by: Tony T. | 28 September 2007 at 14:13
I'm confused - which way is the mozz going?
Carn the Power.
Posted by: 13th Man | 28 September 2007 at 17:27
There's generally no mozzing when I don't barrack for either side, although it's fair to say I slightly favour Gee-Long because they haven't won for yonks. (And not! because they are a Victorian club.)
Posted by: Tony T. | 28 September 2007 at 17:30
Told ya - Bob Davis is a cock.
Posted by: carneagles | 28 September 2007 at 21:26
Half way there... and the lid is definitely off in the seaside town.
Posted by: tONY | 29 September 2007 at 15:51
This is a complete nightmare. Agony, even. Geelong's bad kicking for goal is keeping Melbourne's record loss margin in tact.
(96 pts.)
Posted by: Tony T. | 29 September 2007 at 16:40
No worries then Tony, can we train that laser Mozz onto the ALP now?
Posted by: nick | 29 September 2007 at 17:25
96 pts- what96 pts? 119 pts is the new96 pts.Posted by: Tony T. | 29 September 2007 at 17:25
Damn that 'non-mozz'! Well done Cats.
Posted by: 13th Man | 29 September 2007 at 19:01
No point wasting any mozz energy on the federal election. Labor are past the mozz; they are home.
Posted by: Tony T. | 29 September 2007 at 19:28
16 seats will be the new 119 pts.
Posted by: nick | 29 September 2007 at 20:58
16 seats can't be the new 119 points. Labor's 30 seat loss in 1975 (with a 7.5% swing) is the benchmark already.
Posted by: tONY | 30 September 2007 at 09:31
it was 17 votes (or the lack of them)
in GEELONG
that changed the kennett govt into the bracks one.
but Federally, this Cats win might actually help
the Chimpanzee for Corangamite
Stewie Macarthur
hold his seat yet again.
Posted by: Yr corangamite Correspondent | 30 September 2007 at 21:32
My gut feeling says a 17 seat gain for the Labors will be an underestimate. With or without Stewie Macarthur. Which side does he play for?
Posted by: Tony T. | 30 September 2007 at 22:24