It’s a somewhat anticlimactic situation after watching them down the Hawks by 30 points in last weekend’s preliminary final from a Shanghai entertainment venue while in China for a conference, but his kids’ basketball commitments in the border town call him to parental duties.
There’s no doubt he’d rather be at the ’G, like he was in 2022 when the Cats last took the flag, but he’ll be back in Shepparton by nightfall to either celebrate or commiserate with mates, hoping it will be the former and tipping a 35-point win.
The whole Mellington family of six are mad Geelong supporters.
Moose’s loyalty was formed growing up in Mooroopna and supporting his local Cats, which then extended to following their AFL namesakes.
“It was a time when Gary Ablett Snr produced highlight reels every week,” Moose said.
“They were an easy team to barrack for.”
His wife, Dimity, was once a North Melbourne supporter, but eventually traded the lighter blue vertical stripes for Geelong’s horizontal ones after a family tradition of watching them play regularly on Mother’s Day persuaded her to join the darker side.
The couple’s four boys were all given Geelong jerseys for their first birthdays.
“They didn’t have much of a choice,” Moose laughed, while his son Ashton said he would have chosen to follow the Cats anyway.
“We’re a one-team household.”
It will soon be seen whether their beloved Cats get their claws on this year’s cup or get themselves scratched.
