The Geelong Cats will induct Mark Blicavs and Cam Guthrie as Life Members and honour former club Vice-President Bob Gartland as the recipient of the annual R.J. Hickey Award.
To be presented at the 2022 Hall of Fame dinner in July, Guthrie and Blicavs will etch their names into Geelong’s history books, receiving life membership of the Club, an honour bestowed on very few and the first since Malcolm Blight, Colin Carter, and James Rahilly were nominated in 2018.
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Since debuting in 2011, Guthrie has pulled on the Hoops 217 times, with his breakout season in 2020 landing him his first Carji Greeves Medal and All-Australian blazer.
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“I feel like I've dedicated a lot of myself to the Geelong Football Club and it's truly humbling to get some recognition back the other way.”
Playing his 216th game this weekend, the 198cm versatile defender continues to display impressive leadership strengths and qualities both on and off the field.
“I was told that myself and Cam were receiving the life membership together around the same time, it's pretty special”, he said.
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“It's pretty special for our families too. We obviously grew up together in Sunbury and we have played all different sports together over that time.”
The Hall of Fame dinner will also see the Cats honour Bob Gartland as the recipient of the 2022 R.J. Hickey Award.
Gartland’s contribution to the Geelong Football Club and broader community has been significant. He joined Geelong’s board in 2007 and was elected as Club Vice-President in 2014.
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His impact both on and off-field has been fundamental, through a range of roles across player welfare, welcoming new players to the Club, and playing a vital role in the Kardinia Park stadium development.
Above all of his innumerable contributions to the Club, it’s Gartland’s steadfast endeavour to honour the Club’s past and enable current and future generations to learn about and respect the Club’s rich history that has seen him personify the Kardinia Spirit for decades.
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Dangerfield and Stewart were co-vice captains in 2022, a position Dangerfield has held since 2017 having been included in the Club’s leadership team upon his arrival at the Cattery one year earlier.
Club captaincy is the latest addition to Dangerfield’s list of achievements. Since 2016 when he returned home to Moggs Creek and joined the team that he grew up supporting, he has become a Brownlow Medallist, a three-time Carji Greeves Medallist, a Leigh Matthews Trophy winner, an AFLCA Player of the Year winner, and as of 2022, a Premiership Player.
Across the course of his career, Dangerfield has earned eight All Australian blazers and been named vice captain of the All-Australian team in 2018, and captain in 2020.
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His leadership within the broader AFL industry has been widely recognised for many years, and he has served as President of the AFL Players’ Association since 2018.
Stewart’s leadership was recognised similarly quickly following his addition to the Cats’ AFL list. He made his AFL debut in 2017 and joined the Cat’s leadership team not two years later ahead of the 2019 season.
Widely recognised as the general of the Cat’s defence and among the best defenders of his generation, Stewart has earned All-Australian honours in four out of his six years in the competition and was the 2021 Carji Greeves Medallist.
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The Cats have named their leaders following a selection process that included consultations with Cats players, General Manager of Football Simon Lloyd, Senior Coach Chris Scott, and Cats CEO Steve Hocking before the appointments were ratified by the Board.
The Cats have chosen to appoint the positions of captain and vice captain in its designated player leadership group for the second consecutive year, however the leadership responsibilities for the team are shared and fulfilled by a broad group of senior and emerging leaders within the squad.
Senior Coach Chris Scott noted how both Dangerfield’s and Stewart’s leadership had been formative for the playing group and the entire Club.
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“Pat and Tom are wonderful representatives of a group of players who know what it takes to unlock excellence at the highest level of our sport. The likes of Tom Hawkins, Cam Guthrie, Mitch Duncan, Mark Blicavs – these people are just the latest generation of players who model what we aspire to be as a Club. Pat and Tom and the entire playing group know they have their support, and we all know how fortunate we are to have them at our Club, ” Scott said.
“When Pat arrived, he influenced our Club for the better, on the field but most significantly off it. He has and will always strive to positively influence our people and our culture, which is ever evolving. He’s found a way to embody who we want to be as a football department.”
“As hard as Tom is on field, is as hard as he works off it. To make himself, his team, and his Club better. He’s incredibly well respected by everyone who knows him, plays with him, and plays on him. And that respect is well-earned.”
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“I love walking into this football club every day. We have fun and we work hard. Playing for the Cats has been everything I dreamed it would be since I was a little kid. To continue to represent Geelong, and the players, the Club, and the community who make it great – many of whom I’ve aspired to be like my whole life – is an honour, ” Dangerfield said.
“I’m incredibly lucky to be part of a group of players who push each other to great heights and support each other in all things. Together as one in hoops we’re excited to see where the next chapter in our journey takes us.”
In speaking on his appointment as vice captain, Stewart noted the support he’d been given to expand his leadership in recent years.
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“Being in this role over the last five years is something that I’ve really treasured, and to continually grow and develop in this capacity is something that I’m really proud of, ” Stewart said.
“We’ve got that right balance of knowing exactly what we want and how to get it, but also having that thirst and that drive to continue to grow and develop. We know what we want to achieve. It’s going to take a hell of a lot of work, but we’re really excited for what’s ahead.”
Geelong will head to Queensland for its practice match against the Brisbane Lions on at 7.10pm, Thursday 2 March at Brighton Homes Arena.
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THE Geelong Cats will induct Mark Blicavs and Cam Guthrie as life members of the AFL club and honour former vice-president Bob Gartland with this year’s R.J. Hickey Award.
To be presented at the 2022 Hall of Fame dinner in July, Guthrie and Blicavs will etch their names into Geelong’s history books.
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Life membership of the Cats is an honour bestowed on very few and the first since Malcolm Blight, Colin Carter, and James Rahilly were nominated in 2018.
Since his debut in 2011, Guthrie has pulled on the hoops 217 times, with his breakout season in 2020 landing him his first Carji Greeves Medal and All-Australian blazer.
“I feel like I’ve dedicated a lot of myself to the Geelong Football Club and it’s truly humbling to get some recognition back the other way.”
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Having played his 216th game against the Western Bulldogs, the 198cm versatile defender continues to display impressive leadership strengths and qualities both on and off the field.
“I was told that myself and Cam were receiving the life membership together around the same time, it’s pretty special, ” Blicavs said.
“It’s pretty special for our families too. We obviously grew up together in Sunbury and we have played all different sports together over that time.”
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The Hall of Fame dinner will also see the Cats honour Bob Gartland as the recipient of the 2022 R.J. Hickey Award.
Gartland’s contribution to the Geelong Football Club and broader community has been significant. He joined Geelong’s board in 2007 and was elected as vice-president in 2014.
His impact both on and off-field has been fundamental, through a range of roles across player welfare, welcoming new players to the club, and playing a vital role in the Kardinia Park stadium development.
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Above all his innumerable contributions to the club, it is Gartland’s steadfast endeavour to honour the club’s past and enable current and future generations to learn about and respect the Club’s rich history that has seen him personify the Kardinia spirit for decades.