THE GOOD - GARY ABLETT RE-SIGNED
Maybe it should be 'The GREAT'? Last week Geelong announced that Gary Ablett has re-signed for another two years, locking him in until the end of 2006. The third year player captured the imagination, and then some, of Geelong fans in 2003.

Ablett produced the goods in the midfield and up forward, finishing forth in Geelong's best and fairest and winning Geelong website gfc.com.au's 'people's choice' award. After playing 12 AFL games and winning a VFL premiership in 2002, Ablett gained automatic selection in all 22 games in 2003. He will be missing from tonight's match against Port Adelaide tonight (Match Preview)with a groin injury.

Download the Gary Ablett Screensaver that The Cattery has produced just for you. Install it at home or work, fly the flag!

THE BAD - AFL's DISGRACEFUL 'AMBUSH MARKETING'
Melbourne President Paul Gardiner used the throwaway line 'premeditated murder' to describe his team's draw for 2004 - Geelong's leaders Frank Costa and Brian Cook could actually justifiably use that term to describe the events of recent weeks. I'm talking about the AFL's ridiculous decision to sign up Toyota as a major sponsor, and require Geelong to effectively water down Ford's sponsorship by allowing signage on the fence, goal posts, and logos painted on the ground.

Ford's relationship with Geelong is by far the oldest in the AFL, and maybe the world. Ford has sponsored Geelong for nearly 80 years, something that a short term (three years) deal with a rival company cannot be allowed to destroy.

Cook met with the AFL this week, remaining cautiously optimistic about Geelong's chances of negotiation a deal acceptable to Geelong and Ford. Also caught in the crossfire are the Kangaroos, already struggling for sponsorship. This may yet head for the courts.

Link: Cook's open letter to Geelong members Ford Australia's Sponsorship

THE UGLY - BILLY BROWNLESS
Lovable Larikan Billy Brownless has taken the airwaves by storm on new sports talk radio station SEN's Morning Glory radio show. Brownless, employed part-time by the GFC and paid over $100,000 by the Nine Network to appear on The Footy Show, is the latest former Geelong player to take a lead role on radio.

Dwayne Russell, for now at least, is filling in on 3AW's Sports Today program each weeknight. Having these two knock down the stereotypes of Geelong as a club 'in trouble' is great. It is years now since Geelong was 'millions of dollars in debt', and it's time gutter talk like that was reserved for the Dees, Roos and Dogs (and also Lions, Swans, Dockers). Both Russell and Brownless are fine ambassadors for the Cats.

Geelong v Port Adelaide
Saturday 21 February
Team List & Match Preview