Geelong's 'seconds' play in the Victorian Football League (VFL), an amalgamation of sorts between the former Victorian Football Association (VFA) and the old AFL Reserves competition. The AFL Reserves was known as the Victorian State Football League (VSFL) for a few years after the original VFL became the AFL in 1990. Geelong remains the only AFL club to field a 'standalone' team in the VFL. In 2003 the last of the standalone teams, the Kangaroos, Essendon, and Carlton all formed alliances with 'old' VFA teams, Port Melbourne, Bendigo and the Northern Bullants, respectively.

Geelong won the Premiership in 2002, inspired by a talented mix of experience and youth (pictured above). Coached by Captain Tim McGrath, local legend Ronn Watt, ably assisted by 'supercoach' Terry Emond and other Geelong support staff, the Cats defeated Port Melbourne (then aligned with the Sydney Swans) in the Grand Final at Optus Oval in front of over 10,000 fans. It was Geelong's first Premiership at any level since 1982.

In addition to those AFL listed players not in the AFL side, 'Rookie' listed players as well as other 'Supplementary' (I hate that word) players make up the VFL side. The supplementary players are typically drawn from the local leagues, usually the Geelong Football League (GFL). In recent years loacl players such as Andrew Merriman, Adam Cook, Tom Lyons, Mathew Jovanovic, Tyson Blackney and Warwick Knucky have played for Geelong.

2004 - CATS MISS FINALS

Geelong's VFL side's season ended in disappointing fashion, suffering their fifth defeat in a row, this time by Port Melbourne, to finish outside the eight in ninth position.

ROUND 20: PORT MELBOURNE V GEELONG
SUNDAY 22 AUGUST 2004
TEAC OVAL AT 2:00PM

PORT MELBOURNE 4.4 6.7 12.11 15.15 (105) DEFEATED
GEELONG 8.4 9.6 11.6 12.7 (79)
GOALS: PORT MELBOURNE: Harding 3, Gill 2, J. Clayton 2, Rudd 2, Jones, Firrito, Pitt, Robbins, LeCras, Baird.
GEELONG: Greaves 4, D. Byrne 2, Haynes 2, Spriggs 2, J. Byrne, S. Byrne.
BEST: PORT MELBOURNE:Robbins, Baird, J. Clayton, Firrito, S. Clayton, Perry.
GEELONG: Spriggs, D. Byrne, Egan, S. Byrnes, Buckland, Rahilly, J. Byrne.

B: Spencer Egan Rooke
HB: Thurley Playfair Buckland
C: Cook J. Byrne S. Byrnes
HF: Blake Lonergan Foster
F: Mackie Haynes J. Smith
R: Chambers Rahilly Spriggs
Inter: Allan Greaves
Jordan O’Dwyer Clark Oakley Bolton D. Byrne

ROUND 19: GEELONG V BOX HILL HAWKS
SATURDAY 14 AUGUST 2004
SKILLED STADIUM AT 10:30AM

GEELONG 5.1 8.1 8.4 11.5 (71) DEFEATED BY
BOX HILL 2.1 4.2 6.7 12.10 (82)
GOALS: GEELONG: Greaves 4, Haynes 2, Lonergan 2, Buckland, D. Byrne, Chambers. BOX HILL: Height 3, Kane 3, Jolley 2, Miller 2, Batchelor, Sewell
BEST: GEELONG: Playfair, Chambers, Buckland, D. Byrne, Greaves.BOX HILL: Kane, Rix, Miller, Tallis, Height, Brennan, Bailey, Ball.

ROUND 18: GEELONG V BENDIGO BOMBERS
SATURDAY 7 AUGUST 2004
SKILLED STADIUM AT 2:00PM

GEELONG 6.4 8.8 10.9 16.11 (107) DEFEATED BY
BENDIGO BOMBERS 5.3 9.6 19.8 22.12 (144)
GOALS: GEELONG: Greaves 5, Egan 2, Haynes 2, McCarthy 2, Blake, J. Byrne, Cook, Mackie, Thurley. BENDIGO: Lovett 4, Watson 3, Nash 2, Moorcroft 2, Cosgriff 2, Mercuri 2, Bradley, Campbell, Winderlich, Rosa, Davies, Summers, Wilson.
BEST: GEELONGGreaves Egan, McCarthy, Thurley, Greaves, Chambers. BENDIGO: Carter, Lovett, Winderlich, Hunt, Mercuri, Moorcroft, Bradley, Cosgriff, Campbell.

B: Callan Egan Foster
HB: Thurley Playfair Buckland
C: D. Byrne J. Byrne S. Byrnes
HF: Haynes McCarthy Tenace
F: Mackie Lonergan Koulouriotis
R: Chambers Rahilly Spriggs
Inter: Blake J. Smith Allan Jordan Cook Clark Oakley O’Dwyer Greaves
Bolton

GEELONG HAS THE BYE IN ROUND 17

ROUND 16: GEELONG V NORTH BALLARAT
SATURDAY 24 JULY 2004
SKILLED STADIUM AT 2:00PM

NORTH BALLARAT 3.2 5.3 7.5 12.9 (81) Defeated
GEELONG 1.4 1.6 6.9 9.12 (66)

GOALS NORTH BALLARAT: Tuckey 4, Whyman 3, Frith 2, Foott, Saunders, McCorkell. GEELONG: Tenace 2, D. Byrne, Cook, Enright, Haynes, Mackie, Playfair, Smith. BEST NORTH BALLARAT: Tuckey, Frith, Saunders, Eccles, McLean, McNamara, Field.GEELONG: Buckland, Blake, D. Byrne, Enright, Egan.

B: Callan Foster Rooke
HB: Thurley Playfair Enright
C: Tenace J. Byrne S. Byrnes
HF: Haynes McCarthy Gardiner
F: Mackie Lonergan Koulouriotis
R: Chambers Rahilly Spriggs
Inter: Blake J. Smith Allan Buckland Egan Cook Jordan D. Byrne Clark Oakley O’Dwyer Greaves

(At least four of these will play in the AFL team)

ROUND 15: TASMANIA DEFEAT GEELONG
SATURDAY 17 JULY 2004
BELLERIVE OVAL AT 1:30PM

TASMANIA 2.0 5.2 6.8 11.10 (76) DEFEAT
GEELONG 3.7 7.10 8.11 10.13 (73)
GOALS TASMANIA: Callinan 4, B. Geappen 2, Tupp 2, Ling 2, Bartlett. GEELONG: Haynes 3, Hurley 3, Byrne, Koulouriotis, Lonergan, Spriggs.
BEST TASMANIA: B. Geappen, Robinson, Callinan, Careless, Paull, Ling.GEELONG: Enright, Eagan, Foster, Buckland, Spriggs.

B: Callan Spencer D. Johnson
HB: Foster Playfair Enright
C: Tenace J. Byrne S. Byrnes
HF: Haynes McCarthy Gardiner
F: Thurley Lonergan Koulouriotis
R: Chambers Rahilly Spriggs
Inter: Blake J. Smith Allan Buckland Egan Cook Jordan D. Byrne Clark Oakley O’Dwyer Bolton

ROUND 14: GEELONG EASILY DEFEAT FRANKSTON
SUNDAY 11 JULY 2004
FRANKSTON OVAL AT 2:00PM

FRANKSTON 2.4 4.8 6.9 8.13 (61) DEFEATED BY
GEELONG 4.4 7.5 14.9 16.11 (107)
GOALS FRANKSTON : Clarke 2, Marigliani 2, Pollard 2, Bryan, Winterton. GEELONG Goals: Lonergan 5, S. Byrnes 3, McCarthy 3, Jordan 2, J. Byrne, Cook, Spriggs. BEST FRANKSTON: Clarke, Ablett, Winterton, Minchington.GEELONG: Rahilly, Foster, Haynes, J. Byrne, Buckland, Cook, Koulouriotis, Lonergan.

B: Thurley Egan Buckland
HB: Foster Spencer D. Johnson
C: Tenace J. Byrne S. Byrnes
HF: Haynes McCarthy Koulouriotis
F: Lonergan Playfair Allan
R: Blake Rahilly Spriggs
Inter: J. Smith Cook Greaves Oakley Clark O’Dwyer Jordan D. Byrne

ROUND 13: GEELONG GETS OVER THE LINE AGAINST SPRINGVALE
SATURDAY JULY 3
SKILLED STADIUM AT 2:00PM

GEELONG 4.3 8.6 13.11 15.13 (103) DEFEATED
SPRINGVALE 2.4 7.6 10.6 14.13 (97)
GOALS: GEELONG: Spriggs 3, Byrnes 2, Gardiner 2, Greaves 2, Koulouriotis 2, J. Byrne, Chambers, Lonergan, McCarthy.SPRINGVALE: S. Fisher 5, Wulf 3, Harrison 2, Montagna 2, Bruin, Peckett.
BEST GEELONG: Callan, Foster, Koulouriotis, J. Byrne, Chambers, Spriggs, Cook SPRINGVALE: S. Fisher, Harrison, Heenan, Bruin, Peckett.

B: Callan Foster Buckland
HB: Slade Lonergan J. Smith
C: Tenace J. Byrne S. Byrnes
HF: Thurley McCarthy Koulouriotis
F: Blake Gardiner Allan
R: Chambers Rahilly Spriggs
Inter: Egan Cook Greaves Oakley Clark O’Dwyer D. Byrne Jordan

ROUND 12: BOX HILL GETS THE BETTER OF GEELONG
SUNDAY JUNE 27
BOX HILL CITY OVAL AT 2:00PM

BOX HILL 1.11 4.11 5.17 10.18 (78) DEFEATED
GEELONG 0.0 4.4 4.6 7.7 (49)
GOALS BOX HILL: Alleway 3, Kane 2, Miller 2, Batchelor, Clifton, Taylor.GEELONG: Cook 3, D. Byrne, Gardiner, Greaves, Loats.
BEST BOX HILL: Kane, Sewell, Miller, Barlow, Campbell, Tallis.GEELONG: Chambers, Koulouriotis, J. Byrne, Rahilly, Callan, Cook.

B: Callan Foster Buckland
HB: Slade Spencer J. Smith
C: Tenace J. Byrne S. Byrnes
HF: Lonergan McCarthy Koulouriotis
F: Thurley Playfair Loats
R: Chambers Rahilly Spriggs
Inter: Blake Allan Egan Cook Greaves Oakley Jordan D. Byrne

VFL ROUND 11: GEELONG v PORT MELBOURNE
CURTAIN RAISER: 10:30AM SUNDAY JUNE 13 SKILLED STADIUM

GEELONG 3.1 4.2 5.3 7.7 (49) DEFEATED BY
PORT MELBOURNE 4.3 5.5 8.10 10.11 (71)

GOALS: GEELONG: Spriggs 2, Thurley 2, Rahilly 2, Thurley.
PORT MELBOURNE: Corey Jones 3, Lawrence 2, Pitt 2, J. Clayton, S.Harvey, Chad Jones.
BEST: GEELONG: Rahilly, Callan, Lonergan, D. Byrne, Spriggs.
PORT MELBOURNE: Sinclair, Corey Jones, J. Clayton, Lawrence, Schwarze, Obst, Watson, Trotter.

B: Callan Rooke Wojcinski
HB: Enright Spencer D. Johnson
C: Tenace Mackie Foster
HF: S. Johnson Lonergan J.Byrne
F: Thurley Haynes Koulouriotis
R: Chambers Rahilly Spriggs
Inter: Slade Blake J. Smith Allan S.Byrnes Buckland Jordan Egan D. Byrne Cook Greaves Oakley

ROUND 10: GEELONG DEFEAT TOP OF LADDER WERRIBEE
Saturday 5th June
Skilled Stadium at 2.00pm

GEELONG 4.2 7.8 11.14 17.16 (118) DEFEATED
WERRIBEE 3.1 7.4 9.5 10.6 (66)

GOALS GEELONG: Loats 4, Spriggs 3, Thurley 2, McCarthy 2, Chambers, Enright, S.Johnson, Lonergan, Smith, S.Byrnes.
WERRIBEE: Mitchell 3, Gilbee 2, Cross, Henderson, Murphy, Skipper, Walsh.

BEST GEELONG: Enright, Rahilly, J.Byrne, Loats, Lonergan, Spriggs, McCarthy, Mackie.
WERRIBEE: Cross, Murphy, Morris, Croft, Kretiuk, Street.

B: Callan Milburn Wojcinski
HB: Enright Foster D.Johnson
C: Tenace Mackie Riccardi
HF: S.Johnson McCarthy J.Byrne
F: Chambers Lonergan Koulouriotis
R: Loats Rahilly Spriggs
Inter: Slade Blake Spencer Thurley S.Byrnes Buckland
J.Smith Egan D.Byrne Allan Greaves Cook

ROUND 9: Sunday 30th May GEELONG v COBURG: Coburg City Oval at 2.00pm

COBURG 4.3 8.5 13.13 15.13 (103) Defeated
GEELONG 4.7 8.10 9.11 14.15 (99)

GOALS: GEELONG: Greaves 3, S. Byrnes 2, Smith 2, Allan 2, J. Byrne, Foster, Loats, McCarthy, Spriggs.
COBURG: Gilmour 2, Rodan 2, Carlson, Morrison, Nicholls, Rogers, Blumfield, Dragicevic, Foley, Raines, O’Connor, Roach, Young.

BEST: GEELONG: D. Johnson, J. Byrne, Callan, D. Byrne, Koulouriotis.. COBURG: O’Connor, Rogers, Tuck, Dragicevic, Rayson, Rodan, Foley, Morrison

HB: Callan Spencer D.Johnson
C: Moloney Mackie (Tenace?) S.Byrnes
HF: Spriggs McCarthy J.Byrne
F: Lonergan Playfair S.Johnson
R: Loats Rahilly Bartel
Inter (FOUR TO BE CHOSEN): Blake J.Smith Allan Buckland Cook Greaves Clark Egan D.Byrne Jordan Oakley O’Dwyer

* FOUR PLAYERS TO BE NAMED IN AFL SIDE

ROUND 8: GEELONG THRASH WILLIAMSTOWN (BRACKSY'S ALLEGIENCES TORN!) : Sunday 23rd May 2:00PM at Burbank Oval

GEELONG 5.3 7.6 13.11 17.15 (117) DEFEATED
WILLIAMSTOWN 3.1 6.3 7.6 9.11 (65)

GOALS: GEELONG:: McCarthy 3, Allan 2, S. Byrnes 2, J. Byrne 2, Cook 2, Loats 2, Spriggs 2 Blake, Rahilly.
WILLIAMSTOWN: McKee 3, Shackleton, Rowe, Knight, Lockyer, B. Shaw, H. Shaw.

BEST: GEELONG: Rahilly, J. Byrne, Egan, Bartel, D. Johnson, Spriggs, Cook, Loats. WILLIAMSTOWN: Lockyer, Lloyd, Rowe, McKee, King.

B:Rahilly J.Smith Slade
HB: Callan Spencer D.Johnson
C: Koulouriotis J.Byrne S.Byrnes
HF: Spriggs McCarthy Thurley
F: Lonergan Foster S.Johnson
R: Loats Enright Bartel
Inter: Blake Buckland Allan D.Byrne
Greaves Cook Clark Egan

Italics indicate named in AFL Emergencies

ROUND 7: GEELONG DEFEAT LADDER LEADERS SANDRINGHAM

GEELONG 0.5 4.10 8.12 12.16 (88) Defeated
SANDRINGHAM 1.1 5.2 5.3 9.5 (59)
GOALS: GEELONG: Foster 4, S. Johnson 2, Cook 2, Bartel, J. Byrne, Greaves, McCarthy.
SANDRINGHAM: Sylvia 2, Gallagher 2, Rigoni, Walsh, Smith, Sautner, Vardy.
BEST: GEELONG Enright, Bartel, Foster, Egan, S. Johnson, Spriggs, Rooke, Cook.
SANDRINGHAM: Bell, Fisher, Rigoni, Walsh, Sylvia, Crowe, Williams, Liddell.

(Min. 3 from each team to be named in AFL side)

B:Blake Foster Slade
HB: Callan Rooke D.Johnson
C: Moloney J.Byrne Koulouriotis
HF: Spriggs McCarthy Thurley
F: Mackie Kingsley S.Johnson
R: Loats Enright Bartel
Inter (Four to be selected): Lonergan Spencer J.Smith S.Byrnes Buckland Cook D.Byrne Allan
Egan Greaves Clark Jordan

SANDRINGHAM

B: Mills Lamb Bell
HB: Liddell Broadbridge Williams
C: Gallagher O’Keeffe Walsh
HF: Johnson N. Smith Rigoni
F: Bishop Sautner Sylvia
R: Jamar Crowe Fisher
Inter (Four to be selected) Hunter Read Ferraro McDonald Armstrong Vardy Ward Ritterman Warnock Bizzell Biddlecombe Tabrett

ROUND 6: GEELONG DEFEATS FRANKSTON

Geelong 3.3 4.8 6.14 12.15 (87) defeated
Frankston 2.1 2.3 4.5 8.8 (56)
GOALS: GEELONG: McCarthy 3, J. Byrne 2, S. Byrnes 2, Cook, S. Johnson, Foster, Loats, Lonergan
FRANKSTON: Berry 3 Phibbs 2, Littlechild 2, Brown.
BEST: GEELONG: Callan, J. Byrne, Lonergan, Rooke, S. Byrnes, D. Byrne.
FRANKSTON: Fortnam, Roberts, Murphy, Ablett, Goddard, Folino.

ROUND 5: GEELONG DEFEATED BY NORTH BALLARAT

North Ballarat 2.4 5.5 11.7 12.10 (82) d.
Geelong 4.5 5.8 8.12 11.13 (79)
Goals North Ballarat: Eccles 3, McCorkell 2, Bye 2, Tuckey, Hutchinson, Frith, Whyman, McLean.Best: Field, Eccles, McCorkell, Bye, McLean, Greig.
Geelong: Thurley 3, Allan 2, S. Byrnes 2, Lonergan 2, McCarthy 2.Best: Bartel, Callan, Rooke, Spriggs, Koulouriotis.

ROUND 4 : BYE

ROUND 3: GEELONG'S FIRST WIN!

GEELONG 4.2 8.6 14.13 18.19.127 defeated TASMANIA 2.3 5.5 5.8 8.11.59
Goals: Geelong- Greaves 6, Bartel 2, Thurley 2, Koulouriotis 2, Ablett, Allan, J. Byrne, D. Byrne, Foster, O'Dwyer. Tasmania-Beams 2, Atkin, B. Geappen, Paine, Viney, Wager, Brown,
Best: Geelong- Egan, McCarthy, Callan, Cook, Spriggs, Bartel. Tasmania - Atkin, Beams, Howard, Hall, Kirk.
Reports: Nil. At York Park.

VFL GRAND FINAL PHOTO GALLERY