The Mighty Cats: Geelong FC Quiz | AFL Teams

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. That famous medal of the VFL/AFL is named after our own Charles "Chas" Brownlow. In what year was Chas captain of the Geelong Football Club?

Answer: 1883

He was a player from 1880-1891 (VFA) and was also the club secretary from 1885-1923. He died on 23rd January 1924 and in the season following his death the VFL awarded the medal for the Fairest and Best player in the competition. By coincidence the first player to win the medal was from the Geelong Football club being Edward "Cargi" Greeves.

2. With seconds to go and 5 points down in the 1962 Preliminary Final, Doug Wade (Geelong) took a mark within easy kicking distance but a free kick was awarded to a Carlton player. Who was this player?

Answer: Peter Barry

The umpire Jack Irvine gave the free kick to Peter Barry as he said that our Dougie had been holding onto the shorts of Barry before the ball arrived. Silvagni, Nicholls and Bonetti all played in this game for Carlton.

3. Who wrote the lyrics to "We are Geelong", the club song?

Answer: John Watts

John Watts (premiership player in 1963) wrote the lyrics in early 1963 to the tune of "The Toreador", from the George Bizet Opera "Carmen".

4. I was only 23 years of age and had only played 51 games for the club when I was offered a coaching job at South Adelaide in the SANFL. I moved to Adelaide but Geelong refused my clearance. I returned to Geelong the same season and played in the premiership team that same year. Who am I?

Answer: Bob Davis

Bob "Woofa" Davis had already played in the 1951 premiership team. He returned to Geelong and played 189 games for club and coached them to the 1963 Premiership. He was also known as "The Geelong Flyer". Bob also coached the club to the 1963 premiership win.

5. I was the club's leading goal kicker on nine occasions and also played for another VFL club, in which I also won their goal kicking award. Who am I?

Answer: Percy Martini

Percy Martini played 148 games and kicked 333 goals for the club. He did spend the 1916 season at Richmond were he was the leading goal kicker. Doug Wade won the award at Geelong on 11 occasions and for 3 years (1973-74-75) at North Melbourne. Lindsay White won the award at Geelong for 5 seasons and Gary Ablett Snr for 9 seasons. White and Ablett did not win goal kicking awards at other clubs.

6. I played 288 games for the club, won a Best & Fairest and was named in an ethnic Team of the Century and played in two losing Grand Final Teams. Who am I?

Answer: Peter Riccardi

Peter Riccardi was named in the Italian Team of the Century and unfortunately played in the losing Grand Final teams of 1992 and 1994 to West Coast Eagles. He won the clubs B &F, the Cargi Greeves Medal, in 1998. Peter Pianto (121 games) was also named in the Italian Team of the Century, he also won a B & F (1953) and played in the 1951 and 1952 premiership teams. David Mensch played 158 games and played in the same two losing Grand Finals that Peter Riccardi played in. Paul Vinar (known as The Swede) was born in Czechoslovakia, played 132 games and was a member of the 1963 winning team.

7. All of these four (former) players kicked over 400 goals for the club. Which one of them had the best goal per games ratio?

Answer: Gary Ablett Snr.

Brownless (441 goals and 198 games = 2.23), White (429/117 = 3.67), Wade (834/208 = 4.01) and Ablett (1021/242 = 4.22).

8. In what year did the club get the nickname "The Cats"?

Answer: 1923

This was prompted by a local cartoonist after a run of losses by the club in 1923 in which he suggested that the club needed a black cat to bring them good luck. From then on the club became known as "The Cats". It is also interesting to know that the blue and white hooped guernsey has been worn since the mid 1800s and it is said that the white depicted the white seagulls and the blue depicted the colour of Corio Bay.

9. The Lord twins, Alistair and Stewart, were recruited from which Victorian town?

Answer: Cobden

The both played in the 1963 Premiership Team with Alistair winning the Brownlow medal in 1962. Alistair played 122 games and Stewart 74. Cobden was also the recruiting ground for Thorold Merrett (Collingwood-180 games) and John Rantall (SM,NM and Fitzroy-Total 336 games). Cressy is where the legendary Reg Hickey came from.

10. The same Field Umpire officiated in the two Premiership wins of 1951 and 1952. Who was he?

Answer: H. Jamieson

These were the only Grand Finals that Jamieson officiated in. McMurray Jnr umpired in six Grand Finals, Nash three (1956-57-58) and Beitzel one (1955).

Source: Author zambesi

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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The Mighty Cats: Geelong FC Trivia Quiz

Although not overly successful the Geelong Football Club have always played a positive and entertaining brand of football. Here are some interesting facts about their history.

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